Gardaí acquitted of acquitted of unlawful entry at Dublin flat

Three gardaí have today been acquitted of forcing an entry at a Dublin flat and falsely imprisoning a Dublin woman.

One of the guards, Claire Delaney has also been acquitted of assaulting teenager Owen Gaffney while a fourth, Sean O'Leary, has been found not guilty of unlawful entry at the Basin Street flats on February 17, 2008.

Owen Gaffney (aged 21) said that he was beaten with batons and kicked in the face by gardaí the day after he was allegedly involved in a public order incident.

It is alleged that a piece of paper was waved at his mother Fidelma when she asked to see a warrant and that she was shut into the bathroom during the assault.

After six and a half hours in deliberations, the jury has unanimously cleared Gardaí Sean O'Leary, Claire Delaney, Alan Conlon and Eoin Murtagh of forcible entry and trespass.

Claire Delaney wiped tears away as she was also cleared of assault causing harm.

The jury is still considering whether the three other gardaí assaulted Owen Gaffney at his home.

They have been told they can now return a majority verdict on the remaining counts.