Two arrested as part of Kiltoom incident probe

Two men in their 20s were arrested and imitation firearms seized in Athlone on Easter Monday as part of an investigation into a recent late-night incident where a young motorist was beckoned to pull over by a vehicle from behind with a flashing blue light in Kiltoom.

Thinking it was a garda, the motorist in his 20s did so on the night of March 25 and pulled in. On stopping and seeing the front seat passenger of the other car approach his vehicle shouting, the driver realised this was not the case and quickly fled the scene.

Gardaí said last week that no gun was produced or threats made during what they described as a “sinister incident” which happened along the N61, close to Kiltoom graveyard on Thursday night, March 25 around 10.30pm.

In a joint operation on Easter Monday morning, gardaí in Athlone and Roscommon searched a residence on the Leinster side of Athlone, seizing two imitation firearms and a number of other items.

Two men in their 20s were arrested at the scene and taken to Athlone Garda Station where they were later detained for questioning. They were released sometime later without charge and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the case.