Reputation of gardaí tarnished

The decision of the three judges of the Court of Criminal Appeal that Frank Shortt was a victim of a miscarriage of justice was not just a vindication of his good name.

It was also probably the most blistering indictment of the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State.

The court found Mr Short’s conviction for allowing his premises to be used for drug dealing was based on perjured garda testimony as well as evidence deliberately falsified by gardaí. Mr Shortt displayed exemplary magnanimity in his comments outside the court afterwards.