A garda was cleared yesterday of assaulting a man arrested for drink driving, while the trial of a second garda charged with the same assault heard that the injured party had told his ex-girlfriend he was going to get compensation as a result of the incident.
Garda John Alfred of Bandon Garda station was acquitted of assault causing harm to Roy O'Donoghue in Clonakilty on September 6th, 2004, after Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin directed the jury of seven men and five women to find him not guilty.
The direction came following an application by Pat McCarthy SC, defending, after the prosecution had closed its case against Garda Alfred and his co-accused, Garda Jason Wallace of Kinsale Garda station, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
Tara Mukerjee, Mr O'Donoghue's former partner - who later became involved with Garda Alfred - said Mr O'Donoghue had said he was in for a lot of money.
The case continues.
