Meath man acquitted of handling stolen whiskey worth €250k

A Meath man has been acquitted of handling and possessing €250,000 of stolen whiskey.

Stephen Kearney (aged 24) of The Old Mill, Ratoath, had pleaded not guilty to handling and possessing the goods at Unit 5A, First Avenue, Cookstown Industrial Estate on April 30, 2009.

A jury returned not guilty verdicts after just over two hours of deliberation on day four of the trial.

The goods comprised of 16 pallets with 50 boxes of 12x1 litre Powers Whiskey; 1 pallet with 49 boxes of 12x1 litre Powers Whiskey and 1 pallet of 60 boxes of 12x750 millilitres Powers Whiskey worth €250,000.

Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury of seven men and five women for their time and patience in the course of the trial.