A bricklayer who said he drove through residential areas wearing a rubber mask for a "laugh" has been found not guilty of making approaches to a child.
Mr Gerard Hogan (48), Ballycannon, Meelick, Co Clare, had denied charges of falsely imprisoning and assaulting a nine-year-old girl on August 19th, 2001.
At Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, his sister described him as a "prankster" and said the only thing he was guilty of was "wearing that stupid mask. It has ruined our lives and it has ruined his life - we're all torn apart," Ms Margaret Kelly said.
Under cross-examination, Ms Kelly conceded that her brother was someone who did "crazy things" adding that he got on well with children and they found him funny.
The charges related to allegations that the father of five had attempted to grab a young girl near her home in Kileely on the north side of Limerick.
Earlier, the girl had given evidence in court that the mask was similar in style to one of her favourite Rugrat cartoon characters. Three other children also made similar allegations that they were approached by a masked man in a silver car on the day in question.
Mr Hogan told how he would put on the mask when people called to the door to give them a fright and conceded that he drove his car wearing the mask.
As the jury returned the not guilty verdict in just over an hour, Mr Hogan's family clapped and cheered in the public gallery.
Judge Carroll Moran ordered them to remain quiet as he thanked the jurors and excused them from jury service for four years.