Fraught scenes in court after man found not guilty of sexually assaulting his granddaughter

Complainant had previously lied that her father sexually abused her, court heard

Jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty on each charge. Picture: Larry Cummins

A 66-year-old man accused of 18 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughter was found not guilty by a jury where the defence claimed they had to have a reasonable doubt as she previously lied that her father sexually abused her.

The nine men and three women of the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court returned with a unanimous verdict of not guilty on each charge. Judge Helen Boyle thanked the jury and told the accused he was free to go.