Change of evidence by garda ‘a grave concern’
Judge John Aylmer made his comments at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of Jamie Tighe, 22, who had denied three counts of possession of firearms at Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dublin, on September 7, 2012.
Judge Aylmer directed a jury to find Mr Tighe of Primrose Grove not guilty of three charges of possessing a 12 gauge sawn off shotgun and ammunition.
He made his direction after ruling that evidence that Mr Tighe had admitted owning the arms was inadmissible because it may not have been voluntary.
Judge Aylmer said that during previous trials in October and November last year Garda Alan Flaherty corroborated this account and repeatedly agreed that the accused and his mother had denied any knowledge of the arms.
In a “significant turn of events” during the retrial, Gda Flaherty said he was mistaken, the judge said. The garda witness testified he had since looked at his statement and was satisfied there were no such denials.
