There were violent scenes in a Cork courtroom today after a man was acquitted of killing his partner and disposing of the body in Kinsale Harbour in 1993.
Mr Timothy O'Driscoll (46) of Macroom, Co Cork, had allegedly confessed to the killing when questioned by Gardaí but Judge Patrick Moran today deemed the evidence inadmissible and instructed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.
The family of Ms Michelle McCormack (23) shouted abuse at Mr O'Driscoll as the verdict was announced, and it is believed that a threat was issued to the accused outside the courtroom before attempts were made to attack him.
Judge Moran found the initial statement presented by the State unacceptable because the Garda recording omitted sections of the interview. The second statement given by Mr O'Driscoll was ruled inadmissible because the suspect, Judge Moran said, was not cautioned properly.
The prosecution alleged that while on holiday with their daughter Leona in Owenahincha, West Cork, the accused caused fatal injury to his partner after striking her in the eye.
He was then accused of wrapping the deceased in a blanket, putting it in a bag weighed down with stones and dumping the body into Kinsale Harbour.
The body of Ms McCormack was never found despite a widespread search by Gardaí.