A garda charged with perjury as the result of an assault case was found not guilty at Cork Circuit Court yesterday. After hearing an application by Mr Barry White SC for the defence, Judge Anthony Murphy told the jury it must record a not-guilty verdict.
Garda Michael Finegan was charged with perjury as a result of evidence he gave to Blarney District Court on November 3rd, 1992, relating to assault charges against a number of local people. The charges arose out of a fracas in Blarney on the night of July 2nd, 1992. Witnesses claimed that Garda Finegan's wife was present at the time of the incident, but in the District Court he denied this.
Mr White said Judge Murphy had ruled in their favour because he deemed the alleged perjury was not material to the District Court assault case.