A Clondalkin man has been found not guilty of severing a prison officer’s wrist with a meal tray.
Ceraldo Eyken of Chaplin Court, Clondalkin, cried "Thank You Jesus" after he was acquitted of slashing prison officer Gareth Sheeran on April 11th 2009.
Just before tea-time at Cloverhill that day, Mr. Sheeran claimed he got caught in the middle of an argument between Mr. Eyken and another inmate.
Other prisoners were coming downstairs with empty meal trays.
Officer Sheeran claimed he was attacked with a broken tray by Mr. Eyken. He said he put his arms up to defend himself and was slashed with the tray.
He needed 19 stitches and plastic surgery the following day.
Mr. Eyken, who has 17 known aliases, claimed he "lost his senses" after being pushed down the stairs by another prisoner.
He said he thought he was going to die and would never hit an officer.
The jury came back with their verdict after just 59 mins of deliberations following the two-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
