BAIL AFTER FARMER SHOT & DOG KILLED IN ‘LAND ROW’
Court hears of neighbours’ long-running feud
A “FEUD” between two farmers over “a small dirt track” linking their farms led to one man shooting the other and killing his dog, a court heard yesterday.
Ted O’donoghue, 72, of Killmoreen, Kildimo, Co Limerick, appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court, charged with assault causing harm to John Hayes, 65, at farmlands at Ballycasey, Kildimo, on Friday, June 16.
Despite Garda objections to bail, Judge Marie Keane, remanded Mr O’donoghue in custody with consent to bail on a number of “very strict conditions”.
During the bail hearing, Garda Jason Mitchell Newcastle West Garda station, said the accused “allegedly fired a shot” from a single barrel shotgun at Mr Hayes, “wounding him in the right shoulder”.
He told judge Keane the “serious incident was linked to a “dispute over a ‘right of way’”. Garda Mitchell alleged gardai had been called to lands at Ballycasey on “five occasions since June 2014”, and that the shooting last Friday, was the “latest in an ongoing long running feud over a ‘right of way’.
Garda Mitchell also indicated that more serious charges are anticipated.
Remanding Mr O’donoghue on bail, judge Keane ordered that €3,000 of an independent cash surety of €5,000 be lodged. She warned Mr O’donoghue: “If you breach any of these bail conditions you will be arrested and incarcerated.”
The accused agreed to strict bail conditions, including that he stay away from his farmland at Ballycasey.
Judge Keane described the matter as “very serious”.
She remanded Mr O’donoghue to appear before Limerick District Court on June 21.