Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3428Murder · Co. Laois · 31 Jan 2019

Two women released in investigation into murder of William Delaney, Portlaoise

Two women were released without charge after being arrested on 30 March 2026 in connection with the 2019 murder of William Delaney, 56, a father of eight who disappeared in Portlaoise, Co Laois. A man remains detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, and six people in total have been detained for questioning since the investigation was stepped up in mid-2019.

  1. Reported30 Mar
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo women were released without charge after being arrested in connection with the death of William Delaney. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí received information claiming the victim was tortured and murdered before his remains were dumped in a makeshift grave. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDelaney had been released from a period in psychiatric treatment the day before he disappeared. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenDelaney vanished in Portlaoise in January 2019 but was not reported missing for another six weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe last confirmed sighting of Delaney was on 31 January 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA man continues to be held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Garda stations in the midland and southwestern regions. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn November 2025, three people were held and questioned as part of the investigation before being released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSix people in total have been detained for questioning since the investigation was stepped up in mid-2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí appealed for members of the community to come forward with information. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDelaney had taken time away on his own in the past, so his absence did not cause concern initially. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Mar2026
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Two women released in investigation into murder of father of eight William Delaney

    Two women released without charge; man still detained under section 30; six people total detained since mid-2019; investigation hampered by six-week delay in reporting disappearance.

    victim, William Delaney, 56, male, irish (judged from name)William Delaneysuspect, male