Three men were today found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of beating-up off-duty gardai at the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Racing Stadium.
A fourth accused was acquitted after the jury, which spent last night in a hotel, reached its verdicts following nearly seven hours of deliberations. It was the eighth day of the trial.
All four had denied a total of 14 charges of violent disorder and assaults in the incident on May 15th, 1999 and claimed in evidence they punched the gardai only in self defence.
It was claimed the incident began after one of the gardai allegedly made a lewd reference about a woman who walked past them wearing a white dress with a 'g-string' showing through.
It was also claimed another member had asked this woman's friend who wore a floral dress if she was "in her flowers". These claims were denied in evidence by the gardai.
Joseph Cullen (23), was found guilty of two charges and Jeremy Skerritt (23), of one charge of assaulting the gardai. Both, from Oliver Bond Flats, Dublin 8 were also found guilty of violent disorder.
Anthony Brown (26), of Phibsboro Road, was found guilty of two counts of assault and one of violent disorder.
The off-duty gardai were waiting for a taxi on Ringsend Road after spending a night out at the greyhound races when the trouble began when they claim they were attacked by a group of youths who were also leaving the racing venue.
Three of the gardai were taken to St Vincents Hospital after being kicked in the head and face several times by the gang following a fracas.