Man cleared of aunt’s coercion claim

A man accused of coercion and threatening to cause criminal damage to his aunt’s home was yesterday cleared at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of all charges.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin’s decision to direct the jury to enter verdicts of not guilty after each charge followed the playing of a taped recording in court.

Alan Garland, aged 30, was heard saying repeatedly on the tapes he was not planning to cause any trouble for Joanne Bell from 9, Cahergal Park, Ballyhooley Road, Cork, and had referred to her as his favourite aunt.