A charge of assault against a former adviser to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was withdrawn yesterday by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr Jack Gallagher, Abbey Farm, Celbridge, Co Kildare, had denied assaulting his estranged wife, Ms Eileen Goold, at his home on December 22nd, 2002.
He pleaded not guilty on June 17th last year when the charge was first brought.
In Dublin District Court yesterday Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, for Mr Gallagher, told Judge Cormac Dunne the charge was being withdrawn.
A solicitor for the State confirmed that the DPP was withdrawing the prosecution and asked that the case be struck out.
Mr David Hegarty, solicitor for Ms Goold, said he had been asked to express his client's disappointment. "She is away in New York with her daughter, who is ill, and she has asked me to express her disappointment at it being withdrawn," he said.
Judge Dunne struck out the charge.