The former Garda superintendent, Mr William Geary, celebrates his first blemish-free birthday in over seven decades today. The 101-year-old Limerick man's lengthy letter-writing campaign concluded last April when the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, cleared him of bribery charges.
Mr Geary says the day will be celebrated quietly with his family. "It would be unseemly to have two parties," he said, referring to the centenarian bash held at his favourite pub in Manhattan last year.
The Queens resident says his recipe for longevity includes daily glasses of wine and a serious dedication to pipe-smoking.
In 1928 Supt Geary was accused of accepting a £100 bribe from the IRA when serving in Kilrush, Co Clare. He was dismissed from the force without a hearing or trial. After emigrating in disgrace to New York he began a campaign to gain access to the evidence against him and prove his innocence.