One of the PSNI's most senior officers has stood by the 'de-arrest' of a suspect in the Cookstown Greenvale Hotel tragedy.
Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray said there will be "no apology" after a 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences while already in custody on suspicion of manslaughter over the death of three teenagers.
The top officer revealed an officer involved in the investigation found an "unbranded" bag containing white powder with some tinfoil which looked like "wraps" of drugs.
The officer therefore had a "reasonable suspicion" of a possible drugs offence which is the "threshold in law" to further arrest the suspect, he insisted.
Cookstown Greenvale victims will always have a place in our hearts school says
He said tests have so far indicated the substance is not a 'controlled substance' subject to drugs law, but they have not yet established what exactly it is. DCS Murray insisted "transparency" was key to the investigation, hence the release of information regarding the development.
But Mr Murray said the key issue is the tragic death of three young people – Morgan Barnard and Lauren Bullock, both 17, and 16-year-old Connor Currie – on St Patrick's night.
He added officers have identified more than 400 people who were in the queue or the car park at the Greenvale.
Cookstown hotel owner Michael McElhatton released on bail
Of these, 82 have been interviewed and arrangements made to speak to 106 more.
He described a "fast moving highly intense investigation" which has seen officers dealing with a large volume of information from members of the public.
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