A man from Ballymena, Co Antrim initially acquitted of murder was yesterday cleared of the manslaughter of a father of four he admitted assaulting.
Although Greallan Daniel Macrory (25) was jailed for 18 months for attacking Mr Michael Andrew Close in July last year, he will be free by Friday because of time served awaiting trial.
Macrory, from Fisherwick Place, Ballymena, was initially acquitted of murdering Mr Close (35) in June for lack of evidence. Yesterday Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Girvan ruled there was also "insufficient evidence" to convict him of the manslaughter of Mr Close.