The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to prosecute former Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea over a sworn affidavit he made that led to him leaving the Cabinet.
Mr O'Dea made a sworn statement last summer in connection with a High Court case taken by Sinn Féin local election candidate Maurice Quinlivan.
While he accepted making comments about Mr Quinlivan, which were published in a local newspaper, he denied making other unpublished comments, which figured in the court case.
It later transpired that he had in fact made the comments. Mr O'Dea said he forgot making the comments and apologised.
The case centred on unfounded allegations about Mr Quinlivan.
Mr O'Dea said: 'I didn't have any doubt about what the decision would be because I know I didn't do anything wrong in the first place.
'The last six months have been pretty tough. I was forced to pay out a lot of money, rightly so perhaps, then I lost my job and then I was subjected to an investigation.
'It has been a very tough period for myself and my family. It's over now and I'm glad of that.'
