Courts / Kerry / Report

Sentence hearing of farmer who violently killed neighbour over noisy bird-scarer

Date
2018-11-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ballyduff

County
Kerry

Summary

In a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Kerry farmer Michael Ferris, aged 63, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for the death of neighbour Anthony O'Mahony, aged 73. The case stemmed from a long‑standing dispute over a noisy bird‑scarer. On 4 April 2017 Ferris blocked a small roadway in Rattoo with a New Holland teleporter and drove its prongs into O'Mahony's Peugeot, repeatedly stabbing him. O'Mahony suffered catastrophic injuries, including five penetrating wounds, and died immediately. Ferris admitted to the attack, stating he had been frustrated by the bird‑scarer for 30 years and believed the only solution was to block the road. He had no prior convictions and had been in custody since the incident. The hearing focused on the facts and Ferris's admissions, with no further verdicts announced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sentence hearing of farmer who violently killed neighbour over noisy bird-scarer. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 19 Hearing Or Sentence
April 4, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-11-26 Publication

Why: " Ferris told gardai that he had set out that morning to do this because the "banging business" was going on for the last 30 years and he said Mr O'Mahony was "paying no heed" to anyone to turn it off. CNI source report

Case subjects

Michael Ferris

Defendant

Outcome: At today's sentence hearing Detective Sergeant Sandra Kelly, who was actively involved in the investigation, summarised the facts of the case.