Three arrests as part of investigation into murder of missing man

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

Three people have been arrested by gardaí investigating the murder of a man who went missing almost seven years ago.

William Delaney was last seen on January 30th, 2019, and reported missing by his family on March 6th that year.

In June 2019, gardaí said they received information that the 56-year-old had been killed and his body buried in County Laois.

On Monday, gardaí investigating his murder said two women, one in her 30s and the other in her 50s, and a man in his 30s are being detained at garda stations in the Midlands and South Western regions.

They said Mr Delaney was from Tipperary, but lived in Portlaoise where he had a large family.

On the day he was last seen alive he left Portlaoise General Hospital where he had been a patient and collected his welfare payment at Portlaoise Post Office.

The final sighting of Mr Delaney was at 3pm that afternoon in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, where he called to visit a relative who lived in the area.

The relation was not at home but William was seen outside their home.

In the summer of 2019 gardaí say “a comprehensive search” was carried out in the area around the Rock of Dunamaise but no remains were discovered.