Suspect in mcginley case remains in custody

Police in Northern Ireland are continuing to question a man in connection with the murder of Athlone resident Barney McGinley.

The 46-year-old was arrested in Belfast yesterday by detectives from the PSNI Serious Crime Branch, who are leading the investigation into the murder of the 63-year-old prior to a wedding in Fermanagh last week.

A spokesperson for the PSNI has said the suspect can be held in custody for 24 hours initially. After this time a 12 hour extension can be sought from a senior officer, a Superintendent. Beyond this, applications for further extensions must be made to the courts.

Mr McGinley (63), who was originally from Longford, but had been living in Athlone for several years, was shot in the chest outside St Mary’s chapel in Newtownbutler Co Fermanagh last Wednesday.

He was driven by other wedding guests to Lisnaskea police station from where he was flown by police helicopter to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. However, tragically, he died a short time later.

The incident happened prior to the wedding of Matilda McGinley (17) to Jimmy Connors (16) from Dublin.

Mr McGinley was laid to rest in Coosan cemetery on Monday following funeral Mass in St Mary’s Church, Athlone.