A former Garda National Immigration Bureau employee has been acquitted of accepting bribes for issuing false visas to Chinese students.
John Kennedy (69), Willow Crest, Trees Avenue, Mount Merrion, Dublin, was found not guilty of receiving bribes amounting to €2,000 as well as a bottle of wine and a meal voucher between December 2002 and January 2003 in return for issuing fraudulent visas to agents acting for Chinese immigrants.
The jury reached its decision in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a nine-day trial and two hours of deliberation.
Mr Kennedy had denied the charges.
Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury for its attention to what he called a "complex and peculiar" case and excused the six men and six women from further service for three years.
The trial heard evidence from three Chinese immigrants who alleged they had paid several bribes to Mr Kennedy in return for issuing false visas to them and their friends.
The men told prosecuting counsel, Thomas O'Connell SC, that they gave the money as gifts to thank him for his help in getting them visa renewals and Mr Kennedy had never asked for any payment and initially refused to accept it.
Both men told John Rogers SC, defending, that following their allegations against Mr Kennedy they were given "type four" visa stamps which allows them to remain in the country indefinitely.
They were also guaranteed protection from prosecution as the Director of Public Prosecutions had failed to file charges within the required six-month period.
Mr Rogers questioned Assistant Garda Commissioner Martin Donlon, who headed the Immigration Bureau at the time, why these men had been issued with visas and would not face charges after making allegations they bribed an immigration official.
Mr Rogers put it to the assistant commissioner: "I find it strange these people, after the time the six months expired, made statements to gardaí in 2004 and later they were given type four stamps. Why did that happen?"
Mr Rogers suggested that it was "extraordinary" that persons against whom charges were contemplated were then given the best type of visas. "Ireland is giving the best quality visas to people the DPP recommended be prosecuted."
"I don't see that as extraordinary," Mr Donlon replied. "It's a matter for the director."