Garda detectives are reported to be satisfied there was no deliberate attempt to influence the decision-making of a woman juror in the Traveller funeral murder case.
Senior sources said yesterday the incident which led to the arrest and suspension of a Garda sergeant on Monday arose from drink. They said there was nothing to suggest that an attempt had been made to influence the jury's decision.
There is no suggestion that the incident will lead to any recall of the jury or to any mistrial moves.
The sergeant was questioned in Dún Laoghaire Garda station on Monday and released early yesterday. He remains suspended while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
There had been initial concern that there might have been a contempt of court if an attempt had been made to influence the decision of any of the jurors.
It is understood the sergeant had spent time with members of the jury while they stayed overnight in a city-centre hotel before returning their verdict on Saturday afternoon. Part of the evening was spent in the hotel bar.
After the verdict a woman juror went to a south Dublin Garda station and made a complaint that an attempted sexual assault had been made late at night in her bedroom in the hotel. The complaint was considered serious enough to have the sergeant arrested on Monday afternoon at his station in the north inner city.