A former solicitor at the Chief State Solicitor's Office who was acquitted of possessing child porn has been refused his costs by Judge Yvonne Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Seán Foley (38), of Percy Place, Dublin, was found not guilty on December 20th, 2004, by direction of Judge Murphy of knowingly having child pornography contained in temporary internet files on a computer hard-drive at Merrion Row on May 27th, 2002.
Judge Murphy said: "The question of costs is a matter for the discretion of the trial judge. Having carefully reviewed the evidence, I am satisfied that it would not be appropriate to awards costs."
Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, defending, earlier told Judge Murphy that her direction to acquit indicated that no prima face case had been established by the State.