A Co Mayo farmer was today found not guilty of the manslaughter of a father-of-11 on his farm.
Padraig Nally, 62, denied unlawfully killing Traveller John 'Frog' Ward at his land in Funshinaugh, Cross, on October 14, 2004.
The jury of four women and eight men took almost 16 hours to find the farmer not guilty.
During the trial the Dublin Central Criminal Court heard Mr Nally beat Mr Ward 20 times with a stick and shot him twice with a single barrel shotgun.
Mr Nally, whose sister sat beside him, showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered.
Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins thanked the jury for their efforts during the trial.
"Thank you very much for the care and consideration you have given to this case," he said.
The judge said it was clear the jury had taken their duty very seriously.
He excused them from jury service for 10 years and told them they were free to go.
"The accused may be discharged," he said.
Outside Dublin's Four Courts, Mr Nally expressed his sorrow for the Ward family.
"I feel sorrow for the Ward family who have lost a father and are left with young children," he said.
"I want to thank the jury for their long deliberations, I want to thank the legal team, I want to thank (Senior Counsel) Brendan Grehan," he said.
"I want to thank all my neighbours and friends and all who have helped me, all who have sent letters to me. A visibly shocked Mr Nally said that was all he would be saying for now and he would say more on the matter in the future.
His neighbour, Michael Varley, whom he contacted to ring an ambulance for him immediately after Mr Ward's death, said: "He is relieved it is all over as he is an innocent man."
His friend and supporter, Paddy Rock, who had attended the trial, said: "We are overjoyed with the result."
Mr Rock said their sympathies were with the Ward family at the loss of their father. He said this had nothing to do with settled people and Travellers rather it was an issue where an intruder came into a man's home.
"It would have taken a toll on the community in Cross," he said. "Again now that they see justice has prevailed I think they will be reassured in their homes," he said.
Mr Rock said he hoped Justice Minister Michael McDowell would use this as a platform to legislate for people in rural Ireland with homeowners' rights.
He added: "We are very pleased with the support that came for Padraig nationwide, there wasn't a day when there wasn't Mass, cards or letters sent to him, good wishes even through e-mail. He was very thankful for it but glad it is over.
We would like now and he would like to return to normal life which was disturbed on him about three years ago, through no doing of his own."
Mr Rock said: "We would ask people to just let him get on with his normal day's work."
He said the trial had taken a lot out of Mr Nally, who had to be hospitalised at one stage. Mr Rock said he suffered anxiety and stress. His friend said he believed he could return to normal life although it would take some time.