A 24-year-old Co Wicklow man has been acquitted of the manslaughter of his sister's boyfriend at a family wedding in 2000.
Mr Ronan Byrne, of South Quay, Arklow, was found not guilty by a unanimous verdict at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on a count of assault causing harm, and Judge Frank O'Donnell listed it for mention on July 12th. Mr Byrne was remanded on continuing bail to that date.
He has denied unlawfully killing Mr John Sherwood (29) on September 15th, 2000. He has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Sherwood causing him harm at Lawless' Hotel on September 9th, 2000.
During the trial the court heard that Mr Byrne hit Mr Sherwood once in the face after the pair argued in the car park of the hotel on the night of Mr Byrne's sister's wedding.
Mr Sherwood was the boyfriend of Ms Catherine Byrne, another sister of the accused, and the incident happened after the couple had argued inside the hotel, and Mr Sherwood then left and an altercation occurred with Mr Byrne in the car park.
Ms Catherine Byrne said she ran out into the car park, and saw Mr Byrne punch Mr Sherwood once in the face, and he fell to the ground. Ms Byrne said her boyfriend had blood on his lip and the back of his head.
Over the course of the next couple of days he began to get sick, and was taken to Loughlinstown Hospital before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he died on September 15th.
Other witnesses also said they saw Mr Byrne striking Mr Sherwood once, but Mr Kevin Byrne, a brother of the accused, said the deceased was about to head-butt the accused before he punched him.
The jury were told at the start of the trial that self-defence could not only be used as a defence to manslaughter but also to assault.
Ms Mary Rose Gearty, prosecuting, read to the jury the conclusion of the report compiled by the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, which said Mr Sherwood died from respiratory distress caused by head injuries he received from a "mild punch".
Dr Cassidy reported that the injuries inflicted on the deceased led to a comatose state which caused a chest infection, leading to death. His injuries were caused by one punch and a subsequent fall to the ground. He died from respiratory distress caused by head injuries.