TWO years of mental torture for Colm O’Donoghue concluded this week when the former top jockey was acquitted of charges of physical assault against a former girlfriend.

The case appears to have effectively ended O’Donoghue’s riding career as he found himself shunned by many in racing, both in Ireland and abroad. Previously he had been regarded as one of Ireland’s leading flat jockeys, having won two Irish classics and numerous other top races around the world.

On Monday in Carrick-on-Suir district court, Judge Terence Finn cleared O’Donoghue of any wrongdoing after noting concerns over the evidence given by his accuser, Jill Macken.

It transpired that O’Donoghue was not in the country on the date of the alleged first assault. In relation to the second alleged incident, it emerged that Macken had returned to a Co Meath hotel room after the alleged assault and that she had taken a birthday present to O’Donoghue in Tipperary the next day.

The court also saw a text message she had sent to O’Donoghue saying: “Now to ruin ur life [sic].”

Contacted by The Irish Field yesterday, O’Donoghue was keen to put the matter behind him. He is riding out for Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle and he expressed his appreciation to his legal team and to those who had stood by him.

Aged 40, O’Donoghue has ridden for O’Brien since his apprentice days. The two combined for a number of big race wins, notably the 2007 Poule d’Essai des Poulains with Astronomer Royal and the 2011 Irish Derby with Treasure Beach.

He also rode the winners of the UAE Derby, American St Leger and the Canadian International.

But O’Donoghue is best known for his association with the Jessica Harrington-trained Alpha Centauri, aboard whom he won four Group 1 races, including the Irish 1000 Guineas, in 2018.