Sixth arrest in postman shooting probe

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 11 Jun 2010, 14:06

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A SIXTH suspect has been arrested by gardai investigating the attempted murder of a young postman, who has been critically ill in hospital for the past 20 months.

Victim Robert Delany remains in a vegetative state in hospital after being shot in the head at his home in Tallaght, south Dublin, in October 2008.

The son of a former senior figure in the Provisional IRA's Dublin brigade is believed to have been behind the shooting.

The 27-year-old postman was hit by 20 shotgun pellets when he looked out of the window at his home in Russell Rise, Tallaght, after the doorbell rang at 6.30am on October 22, 2008.

Sixteen of the pellets remain lodged in his brain as he lies in a coma at Tallaght Hospital.

Gardai believe Mr Delany was shot because just weeks earlier he had intervened to stop an assault in a pub.

The prime suspect was involved in the row and afterwards Mr Delany, a father of two young children, was threatened and told: "We'll get you."

The latest arrest was carried out by armed detectives in Tallaght yesterday morning and a 21-year-old man was taken to the local garda station for questioning under the Offences Against the State Act.

The other five people arrested were subsequently released without charge.

Gardai have been anxious to talk to anybody who has information on a white Honda Integra car used in the attack.

The car had been stolen from a garage on the Naas Road. It had distinctive wheels: the front alloys were white and the rear alloys were silver.

The victim's father, Terry, launched a campaign for justice, and held a meeting with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.

Mr Adams said the father of the alleged attacker had not been active in Sinn Fein for more than a decade.

Terry Delany appealed to anyone with information to come forward and contact the gardai in confidence. The garda confidential line is 1800 666111.

- Tom Brady Security Editor

Irish Independent