Businessman cleared of sexual assault

A 58-year-old businessman has been cleared by a jury of seven counts of sexually assaulting a middle-aged woman at a location…

A 58-year-old businessman has been cleared by a jury of seven counts of sexually assaulting a middle-aged woman at a location in west Cork over a six-month period in 2009 and 2010.

Restaurateur John Murphy, of Church Gate, Castletownbere, had denied the seven counts when he was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Monday. Yesterday a jury of eight men and four women acquitted him after deliberating for about an hour.