TUAM MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF CITY ASSAULT

Date Published: 09-Nov-2011

A 20-year-old Tuam man walked free from court yesterday after a Circuit Court judge directed a jury to find him not guilty of assaulting another man.

P.J. Coen, of 195 Palace Fields, Tuam, had denied assaulting Shane Hosty with a broken bottle at Eyre Square on September 19, 2008.

Mr Hosty, who is now aged 22, told the jury he was on his way to Eyre Square after leaving Cuba night-club when he saw a fight taking place at the top of Eyre Street.

Mr Hosty said he received 17 stitches to his cheekbone, which had left a permanent scar.

Two of his friends, who were witnesses, said they could not conclusively say P.J. Coen was the person who had hit Mr Hosty with the broken bottle.

Following submissions from defence barrister, John Kiely, Judge Groarke told the jury he was withdrawing the case from them.

He directed the jury to find the accused not guilty.