A SECOND man arrested in connection with the murder of Offaly publican Matthew Farrell remained in custody in Tullamore yesterday evening.

He is in his 20s and was being interviewed at Tullamore garda station under Section 20 of the Offences Against the State Act, under which he can be held for up to 24 hours.

The first man arrested in connection with the death last Thursday, who is also in his 20s, was released without charge yesterday morning.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Both men are from the midlands.

Farrell, who was 64, was found dead in his pub in Daingean on 1 April. It is believed he lost his life during a botched robbery attempt at the business.

Gardaí believe that the first man arrested may have had connections to other robberies in the region in which victims were tied up and assaulted.

Farrell was found tied to a chair in the downstairs section of his pub by his son Matthew early in the morning. A post-mortem examination concluded that he had been beaten in the head.

Some 100 gardaí have been drafted in to investigate his murder.