A Co Down man accused of attacking a garda injured on duty at a Garth Brooks gig in Croke Park has walked free from court after the case was dropped today.
Gary Doyle, 27, of Kinallen Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, Newry, was charged earlier with assault causing harm to the officer at Croke Park on September 10 but denied the allegation from the outset.
He maintained that he had been at the concert as a designated driver for a group of Garth Brooks fans.
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He faced his third hearing today at Dublin District Court when the case was listed for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Judge Bryan Smyth noted the direction was to withdraw the charge.
Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher told the court his client had "indicated from the very minute he was arrested that he was not the man".
He added that Mr Doyle was grateful that An Garda Siochana carried out full enquiries and that the matter was being withdrawn.
The charge brought in the case can, on conviction on indictment, carry a maximum ten-year sentence.
At a previous procedural hearing in October, the solicitor said the case weighed on his client, who protested his innocence.
There was also a delay in getting a medical report.
Judge Smyth had then said he expected progress.
The solicitor had also told the court he had written to Croke Park about video footage, but the investigating officer had obtained the evidence.
The court sergeant had said, "the CCTV does not show the assault, but it will be furnished".
At the first hearing, on September 12, Garda Sergeant Elaine Murtagh told Judge Smyth that Mr Doyle's reply to the charge after caution was: "I didn't do it".
There was no objection to court bail, but he had to lodge €1,000 because he lived outside the jurisdiction.
The court heard the garda suffered a broken nose.
At his first appearance, the defence solicitor told the court that "at all times", Mr Doyle "maintained his innocence".
Mr Kelleher said his client was "a designated driver" for a group who went to the concert. He had told the court that the accused "was sober at all times".
The solicitor had asked for the CCTV evidence to be furnished and added that video footage would show his client was "not the assailant".
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