A BAR manager who old a jukebox owned by a businessman has been found not guilty of stealing the machine by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr William Twomey (31), of Derryormand, Eyrecourt, Co Galway, had denied the charge that he stole the jukebox, valued at £4,000 from its owner, Mr Tom Tynan of Thurles, Co Tipperary, between May 15th and November 26th, 1994.
He had also denied a second charge that he fraudulently converted the jukebox to his own use and benefit.
After a two day trial, only the stealing charge was left to the jury which took about two hours to clear Mr Twomey. Judge Kieran O'Connor then discharged Mr Twomey.
The case arose out of the placing of the jukebox in Mulligan's Bar, Dublin Road, Limerick, by Mr Tynan.
Mr Twomey told the court he believed he had been cheated of several thousand pounds by Mr Tynan over the way he conducted the contract between them.
Replying to his counsel, Mr Felix McEnroy, he said he sold the jukebox for £1,000 when Mr Tynan failed to remove it as demanded by him.
Sgt James Ryan told Mr George Bermingham, prosecuting, that When interviewed, Mr Twomey claimed the jukebox was installed on the basis that the proceeds would be divided equally between them subject to Mr Tynan getting a minimum £50 a week.
Mr Twomey told the court Mr Tynan removed the proceeds from the jukebox without any reference to him. The least the jukebox would earn in a fortnight was £200 and at best about £450. He felt he had been cheated by Mr Tynan.
Mr Twomey said he directed Mr Tynan to remove it from the pub. When he failed to do that, he put it into the storeroom. He said he told Mr Tynan on the telephone what he had done and knew where the jukebox was but added he was not telling him.
It remained in the storeroom for some time and eventually he sold it when Mr Tynan still failed, to come for it.