Man questioned over 1999 murder

Gardaí in Waterford city are to continue their questioning of a man they arrested at Dublin airport in connection with a murder more than ten years ago.

The body of 34-year-old Martin Nolan was found in July 2000 in woods between Tipperary and Waterford.

Mr Nolan had gone missing in November 1999 and his badly burned body was found on a makeshift pyre in the woods the following summer.

In 2006, Gary Penkert, 37, from Waterford city was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court of perverting the course of justice and withholding information from gardaí in relation to Martin Nolan's death.

Penkert was never suspected of involvement in the murder of Mr Nolan, his trial was told four years ago.

Nobody has been charged with Mr Nolan's murder to date, but a suspect in the case whom gardaí wanted to question left the country after Mr Nolan's disappearance.

He was arrested yesterday at Dublin Airport and was brought to Waterford for questioning.

Mr Nolan was last seen near Avondale in Waterford at around 7pm on 10 November 1999.

He called to see his former girlfriend before parking his car and heading off on foot. His father and brother noticed next day that he was missing.

A few days later forestry officials noticed fresh blood covered by sand and gardaí discovered a piece of bone.

Some months later two fishermen saw a fire in Clondonnell Woods, on the border between Tipperary and Waterford. But it was not until 5 July 2000, that the two men returned and discovered a makeshift pyre containing Mr Nolan's remains.