Row over dog worrying sheep has court sequel
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A farmer who threatened a neighbour during a heated row over a dog frightening his sheep has been ordered to engage with the Probation Service.
James Gibbons, aged 48, of Doughmakeon, Louisburgh pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to separate charges under the Public Order Act and Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on May 6, 2023, at Doughmakeon.
Gda Sgt John O’Reilly said the defendant had been driving his tractor when he noticed that the victim, Thomas Cannon, was driving a short distance behind him in a car.
“Mr Gibbons stopped his tractor and he started shouting down from it towards Mr Cannon,” he explained. “Mr Gibbons got down from the tractor and approached Mr Cannon who by this stage had gotten out of the vehicle to hear what the defendant was saying as he is hard of hearing.”
Sgt O’Reilly said Gibbons then approached the injured party in a threatening manner and claimed the man's dog was frightening his sheep. The defendant was also roaring and shouting and made very abusive comments about one of the complainant’s deceased family members.
Sgt O'Reilly said the defendant was before the court on an assault charge but it was "at the lower end of the scale".
Another local man, Anthony Jordan, who was also travelling on the road, came between the two men, which ensured the situation did not escalate.
The court heard the defendant has no previous convictions.
Solicitor Tom Walsh said the incident happened in a rural location and his client Gibbons, a single man, had been farming his land independently for about nine years since his father died.
“It is a very emotive type of situation," Mr Walsh said. "It is rural Ireland, sheep farming and the time of year and worries about dogs interfering with sheep,” he said. “There has been a history. I am not getting into that, and I do not want to blame anybody, victim or otherwise, but my client has been on exemplary behaviour.”
Judge Fiona Lydon asked if the two men had adjoining land and Mr Walsh said they did not but the people in the area were “all neighbours”. There have been no issues between the two men since the incident.
Sgt O’Reilly said a victim impact statement had been canvassed but Mr Cannon did not wish to provide one.
Judge Fiona Lydon said a restorative justice element to any sentence could be beneficial and she requested a Probation Report on the defendant. The case was adjourned until June 5.
