A man walked free from court today after the State's legal team dropped the murder charge against him.

Matthew Gralton (22) had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Christy Daly (47) on a remote bog lane in Kilbride, Clara, Co Offaly between December 29, 2013 and January 7, 2014.

The murder charge against Mr Gralton, of Mt Prospect, Co Roscommon, was dropped following several days of legal argument.

Counsel for the prosecution Patrick Marrinan SC told the jury that he was entering a "nolle prosequi". Justice Patrick McCarthy told the jury that matters had been dealt with in their absence and that the prosecution had decided to discharge Mr Gralton but that the trial of Ross Allen will continue.

Mr Allen (25), with addresses in Carrickmines, Co Dublin and Clara, Co Offaly, has pleaded not guilty to Mr Daly's murder.

His trial continues before Justice McCarthy and the jury of five women and six men this afternoon.

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