GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the fatal shooting in Gormanston, Co Meath on Wednesday afternoon have released one of the five men who had been in custody.

The man, in his 30s, was released this afternoon. A file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Peter Butterly, 35, was shot in the car park of The Huntsman pub just after 2pm on Wednesday afternoon.

The father of three had been charged with membership of the Real IRA in 2010, but the criminal case against him collapsed when a section of the Offences against the State Act – which was used to issue the search warrant behind some of the evidence – was struck down as unconstitutional.

It is thought that Butterly’s death may be linked to an internal Real IRA feud that has escalated since the shooting dead of Alan Ryan last September.

Four of the five men arrested were in a car intercepted by Gardaí shortly after the incident; the four were arrested while a handgun was also recovered. The fifth man was arrested nearby a short time later.

Earlier: Five men continue to be held over shooting outside Meath pub