A barrister accused of intimidating a potential witness during a fraud case was found not guilty yesterday.
Mr Pádraig Cullinane (43), of Courthouse Chambers, Washington Street, Cork was charged with intimidating witness Ms Caroline Settini at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The alleged incident occurred on November 14th, 2002 in court one at Cork Circuit Court.
Ms Settini's estranged husband Mr Hicham Settini, a Moroccan national with an address at Saint Luke's, Cork was before the court on 103 different counts of social welfare fraud.
Ms Settini, with an address at Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork had been summoned to the court by the prosecution and also by her husband's counsel to give evidence in the case.
During a break in proceedings it was alleged that Mr Cullinane and a solicitor Mr Tom Shanahan, who were both representing her husband, approached the woman.
During her evidence Ms Settini said that one of the men told her that they wished to talk to her. She could not recall exactly who spoke to her. She spoke to the State's solicitor who told her that she did not have to talk to the men.
At a second break in the case, it was alleged Mr Cullinane asked Ms Settini who had paid for her house in Comeragh Park. It was also claimed that he said: "How will you tell your daughter that you put her daddy in jail."
Yesterday a jury of five men and six women, recorded a verdict of not guilty after deliberating for three hours 20 minutes.
Following the verdict, Mr Cullinane embraced his wife, Dr Myra Cullinane, the Cork City Coroner.