A GARDA broke down and cried when a jury after five hours' deliberation brought in a not guilty verdict on three perjury charges which were brought against him.
Garda John Finnegan is believed to be the first member of the force to face perjury charges. The trial lasted for eight days.
Garda Finnegan was charged with committing perjury in Blarney District Court in November 1992 during an assault case involving three local men who were accused of assaulting him in Carrignavar, Co Cork, in July 1992.
The Cash man brothers, John and Michael, were convicted of assaulting him, and a third man, Martin Daly, pleaded guilty to the charge. All three had their appeals to the Circuit Court against the convictions allowed.
The perjury charges arose from a complaint made by the Cashmans' parents, and three days before Christmas 1993 Garda Finnegan was suspended from his job and has remained suspended since then. He was served the summons relating to perjury on St Stephen's Day.
Mr Gerry McCarthy, solicitor for Garda Finnegan, in a statement after the trial said his client was delighted that his four year ordeal was over and he was most grateful to all concerned, especially the jury members and his legal team.
His wife, Mary, who broke down and cried on hearing the verdict, said they now wanted to get on with their lives, adding they had received tremendous support from neighbours and friends in Carrignavar.
She said they and their children had suffered a great deal and that she had to find part time work because her husband was not receiving his full wages while suspended.
Mrs Finnegan said her husband was fully vindicated by the jury's verdict and she called on the Garda Commissioner to reinstate him as speedily as possible. She said they hoped they would continue to live in Carrignavar.