Gardaí have arrested three people on suspicion of extortion as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal money lending in Co Sligo.
A man and a woman, both in their 40s, were being detained on Tuesday at garda stations in Ballymote and Carrick-on-Shannon under Section 17 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
A 17-year-old girl was also arrested but has since been released and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Detectives believe that more than a dozen people from the one area received loans from a family and the investigation is focused a community rather than being a national inquiry.
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A garda spokesman appealed to anyone who has been targeted by illegal money lenders to report the matter.
