FIANNA FÁIL TD Mattie McGrath has been found not guilty of assaulting a teenager in his hometown during an alleged row two years ago.
Mr McGrath (50) and five other men, including his son Edmond, were last night acquitted of all charges relating to the incident.
The jury in the trial returned a majority verdict of not guilty on three charges against Mr McGrath, including assault causing harm, violent disorder and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.
Mr McGrath was cheered by supporters from his South Tipperary constituency as he left Clonmel Circuit Court surrounded by family and friends last night.
"I am delighted to have fully vindicated my good name and the good name of my co-defendants," said Mr McGrath. We have always maintained our total innocence," he said. "The last two years have been very distressing to my family and friends. None of this should have ever happened and I believe it was a totally flawed process from the outset."
Mr McGrath, Garreneasy, Newcastle, Co Tipperary, was accused of assaulting Timothy Cleere (19), one of a number of youths drinking in a church car park in Newcastle on the night of August 13th, 2006.
The trial heard the youths had been shouting abuse at people outside Nugent's pub in the town where Mr McGrath had been socialising with friends. A row broke out at the church gates after Mr McGrath phoned a friend in the bar when he was approached by a number of the youths who were described as "drunk" and "threatening".
Mr Cleere and Eric Reith gave evidence that they were assaulted by a number of men who came from the pub during the alleged brawl.
Mr McGrath and his son Edmond, Garreneasy, Newcastle; Christopher Cullinan, Jason Ahearne, James Lonergan, all of Liam Lynch Terrace, Newcastle, and Anthony O'Dwyer, Garreneasey were all found not guilty of assaulting Timothy Cleere. Mr Cullinan was also found not guilty of assaulting Eric Reith.