A prison officer has been acquitted of assaulting a prisoner with a bunch of keys in the holding cells of the Criminal Courts of Justice two years ago.

Thomas Hogg (49) from Clondalkin in Dublin had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Bernard Cawley (46) causing him harm on April 20th 2012.

Mr Hogg had told gardaí during a voluntary interview that he was acting in self defence.

The jury had been deliberating for two hours before reaching their verdict on day two of the trial.

Judge Patrick McCartan thanked the jury of eight men and four women for their service.