Official acquitted of taking bribes to issue false visas

A former Garda National Immigration Bureau employee has been acquitted of accepting bribes for issuing false visas to Chinese students.

John Kennedy (aged 69) of Willow Crest, Trees Avenue, Mount Merrion, Dublin was found not guilty of receiving bribes amounting to €2000 as well as a bottle of wine and a meal voucher between December 2002 and January 2003 in return for issuing fraudulent visas to agents acting for Chinese immigrants.