Officer released without charge after quiz into 51-year-old's death

A GARDA has been arrested in connection with the death of a man, it has emerged.

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

The Irish Daily Star has learned that the officer - who was suspended last week — was detained on Tuesday over the death of Paul Butler.

The 51-year-old suffered fatal head injuries after an incident outside the Holiday Inn in O'Connell Street, Dublin, on August 15.

The officer, who is based in the city’s Store Street Station, was arrested by investigators from Fiosru, the independent policing watchdog. He denies any wrongdoing.

He was held in a Garda station elsewhere in the city and questioned by Fiosru officials for several hours.

He was later released without charge and the investigation is continuing.

A Fiosru spokesman said: “The investigation is ongoing and we will not be making any comment”.

News of the officer's arrest came ahead of Mr Butler's funeral mass in Dublin this morning.