State urged to pay man prosecuted in error

The State has been strongly urged by the Supreme Court to make a “significant” ex gratia payment to a man after finding he should never have been prosecuted for public order offences arising from a dispute over cattle between neighbours in West Cork 19 years ago.

The circumstances which lead to Stephen Murphy Junior’s prosecution for two alleged offences outside his home on June 27, 1996, represented a “significant internal failure” on the part of gardaí, Mr Justice Frank Clarke said.

While dismissing claims of malicious prosecution, the three-judge court urged the State to “seriously consider” making a “significant ex gratia payment” to Mr Murphy due to the way he was treated.