School caretaker slashed neighbour’s tyre

A man who slashed a tyre on his neighbour's car following a row over a dog has received a suspended prison sentence.

Paul Nyland, aged 57 of Ballinacorriga, Pontoon Road, Castlebar, previously pleaded guilty at the local district court to a charge of criminal damage.

On November 2, 2022, the injured party, James Murray and his children returned to his car in the Aldi carpark in Castlebar to find one of his front tyres had been slashed.

Mr Murray had seen Nyland in the car park earlier and CCTV also identified him. Nyland slashed the tyre with a Stanley knife.

The court heard that a dispute between the neighbours started when Nyland’s dog began coming onto the Murray property. One of Mr Murray’s children has a serious fear of dogs. The court was told that when Mr Murray asked Nyland to stop allowing the dog onto the property this ‘frustrated’ him.

When the issue was reported to the dog warden, it ‘festered and grew legs’.

The case was adjourned for a Probation Report and came before the courts again on Wednesday.

Nyland, who works as a school caretaker, has no previous convictions. Compensation was paid to the victim.

Solicitor Augusta Tuohy said her client’s actions were a ‘moment of madness’. She said there will be no further issues in the future and said her client had a knife on his person because of his work.

A victim impact statement from the Murray family described the ‘emotional distress’ they suffered and how they have installed CCTV at their home.

“We feel reduced enjoyment in the house we built three years ago,” said Mr Murray.

Judge Vincent Deane noted the positive Probation Report furnished to the court but added this was a ‘particularly upsetting’ incident for the injured party.

Judge Deane imposed a six-month sentence, suspended for two years. Nyland is to have no contact with the injured party or his family for the duration of the suspension.