Manager cleared in drugs case

The former owner-manager of a Dublin city centre discotheque has been cleared of six charges of allowing the premises to be used…

The former owner-manager of a Dublin city centre discotheque has been cleared of six charges of allowing the premises to be used for drugs purposes in 1995.

Mr Michael McLoughlin was found not guilty by direction of Judge Dominic Lynch of one charge of knowingly permitting Groucho's disco at the Powerscourt Centre to be used for the preparation of cannabis for smoking on February 16th, 1995.

He was also found not guilty by the jury of five further charges of allowing the premises to be used for the possession and smoking of cannabis, and for the possession of ecstasy, amphetamines and ephedrine.

Mr McLoughlin (40), married of Gortmore Park, Finglas had denied the six charges during his four-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He was discharged by Judge Lynch.