Ireland Three released without charge in William Delaney murder probe, Portlaoise
William Delaney, a 56-year-old man who lived in Fielbrook, Portlaoise, was last seen at about 3pm on 30 January 2019 in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, and his family reported him missing on 6 March 2019. Gardaí investigating his murder made arrests in 2019 and three more in November 2025, and nobody was charged in either round. Gardaí said the murder was treated as a killing with the body buried in Laois, and searches near the Rock of Dunamase and at Kyletalesha bogland found no remains. On 30 March 2026, two women in their 20s and 30s and a man in his 30s were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, and all three were released without charge the same day.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested30 Mar
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- William Delaney, a 56-year-old man, was the victim of a murder investigated by Portlaoise Gardaí.
- Where
- William Delaney went missing from his home in Portlaoise and was last seen in Monasterevin, Co Kildare.
- When
- William Delaney was last seen at about 3pm on 30 January 2019 and his family reported him missing on 6 March 2019.
- Cause
- In June 2019, gardaí received information that William Delaney had been killed and his body buried in Laois.
- Investigation
- Earlier arrests were made in 2019, and nobody was charged.
- Three people were arrested in November 2025 and released without charge.
- A search of bogland at Kyletalesha in August 2023 and a search near the Rock of Dunamase found no remains.
- Gardaí believe people in the community have information that has not yet been passed on.
- Other details
- On 30 March 2026, two women aged in their 20s and 30s and a man aged in his 30s were arrested in connection with the murder.
- The three people arrested on 30 March 2026 were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Garda stations in the Midland and South Western regions.
- The three people arrested on 30 March 2026 were released from custody without charge.
- Charges
- No one has been charged in the murder investigation.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí arrested three people in connection with the murder of William Delaney. (leinsterexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- whatWilliam Delaney was murdered in 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereWilliam Delaney went missing from his home in Portlaoise. (kildarenow.com)
- whereWilliam Delaney was last seen in Monasterevin, Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whereWilliam Delaney was a Tipperary native who lived in Fielbrook, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenWilliam Delaney was last seen at about 3pm on 30 January 2019 in Monasterevin, Co Kildare. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenWilliam Delaney was reported missing by his family on 6 March 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenWilliam Delaney went missing on 30 January 2019. (kildarenow.com)
- causeIn June 2019, gardaí received information that William Delaney had been killed and his body buried in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie, kildarenow.com)
- investigationPortlaoise Gardaí arrested a further three people, two women and a man, in connection with the investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe three people are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Garda stations in the Midland and South Western regions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThese arrests follow three arrests in November 2025, after which the people arrested were released without charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationEarlier arrests were made in 2019, but nobody was charged. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Portlaoise arrested a further three people, two women and a man, in the murder investigation. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationThese arrests follow three arrests in November 2025, after which the people were released without charge. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationA search near the Rock of Dunamase found no remains, and earlier arrests were made but nobody was charged. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationA search of bogland at Kyletalesha was carried out in August 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationA search around the Rock of Dunamase found no remains. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA search of bogland at Kyletalesha in August 2023 found no remains. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThree people were arrested in November 2025 and released without charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe people in the community have information that has not yet been passed on. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe three people arrested are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThree people arrested in connection with the murder were released from custody. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherTwo women and a man arrested on the morning of 30 March 2026 were released without charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Mar2026Three released in Portlaoise murder probe
Two women in their 20s and 30s and a man in his 30s were arrested on 30 March 2026 and released without charge. These arrests follow an earlier arrest of three people in November 2025, who were also released without charge.
victim, William Delaney, 56, irish (judged from name)William Delaneysuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 30s, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 30 Mar2026BREAKING: Gardaí arrest three people over murder of man last seen in Kildare
Three further arrests in the murder investigation of William Delaney, following three arrests in November 2025 for which no charges followed. The article gives no date for the killing and does not name the three arrested people.
victim, William Delaney, 56, male, irish (judged from name)William Delaneysuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 30s, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 30 Mar2026BREAKING: Portlaoise Gardaí arrest three people over murder
Reports three further arrests in the Delaney murder investigation, following three arrests in November 2025 that ended without charge. Gardaí appeal for information.
victim, William Delaney, 56, male, irish (judged from name)William Delaneysuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, 30s, male