Man cleared of assaulting burglar twice with his car

The businessman cleared of assaulting a burglar he struck twice with his Mercedes car last night said: “I’m glad it’s all over.” He said he wouldn’t go “through this ordeal again”.

Surrounded by his family and friends, property developer Martin McCaughey, 48, was speaking on the steps of Dundalk courthouse where minutes earlier a jury returned a not guilty verdict. He had always denied the charge of assaulting Daniel McCormack causing him harm.

The two-day trial heard McCormack was given a suspended three-year jail term for the burglary on the McCaughey family home and later successfully sued Mr McCaughey for €175,000.