Court acquits two men of civil servant's murder

Two young Dublin men have been found not guilty of murdering a civil servant by direction of Mr Justice Liam McKechnie at the Central Criminal Court today.

Mr Michael Geoghan (aged 20) of Northway Estate, Finglas and Mr Richard Bourke (aged 20) of Sycamore Park, Finglas East were discharged from the court by Mr Justice McKechnie after his ruling.

He told the jury that he had to exclude "certain statements" and "memos of interviews" from being available as evidence against the two men in their trial.

Both men were accused of beating a civil servant to death in Finglas on 1 December 1998.

The court heard that Mr Brian Fitzpatrick of Clune Road, Finglas died from head injuries three days after he was kicked and punched by the two accused.

The jury heard evidence that he sustained massive bleeding to the brain and the cause of death was blunt force injury.

Earlier in the trial, which began on October 20 last, prosecuting counsel Mr Tom O’Connell SC told the jury that the only reason for the beating was that earlier that same night Brian Fitzpatrick and his friend had refused to give cigarettes to the two accused.

Mr Fitzpatrick had been out for a drink and was walking to his home at Clune road around midnight when the two accused asked him for cigarettes in an "aggressive manner".

Mr Fitzpatrick and his friend parted company and it was alleged that Michael Geoghan and Richard Bourke met him again and proceeded to punch him in his head and upper body.

The case spent several weeks in legal argument in the absence of the jury.

Mr Justice McKechnie told the jury that there was "no further evidence available" that could go to the jury to reach a verdict and so asked them to return a verdict of not guilty by his direction.

The two men were discharged from the court and left the court with their families. The family of Mr Brian Fitzpatrick were not present in court today.

Mr Justice McKechnie thanked the jury for their time and released them from jury service for a period of seven years.