Courts / Galway / Report

Solicitor wrote to farm murder accused telling him to stop 'threats' and 'intimidation', trial hears

Date
2023-02-28

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Portumna

County
Galway

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, solicitor Brendan Hyland testified that he had represented Chrissie Treacy and her brothers for decades, and in 2017 he wrote to Michael Scott urging him to stop threatening and intimidating Treacy over a 42‑acre farm she rented to Scott. Hyland described how Scott had interfered with the letting of the land, damaged fencing, and threatened Treacy's home help, and warned that legal action would follow if he did not cease. He also detailed a dispute in which Scott's solicitor claimed an agreement that Treacy's land would pass to Scott upon her death, which Hyland denied. Treacy's death in 2018, allegedly by Scott's alleged deliberate running over her, is the subject of the trial, with Scott pleading not guilty. The court heard Hyland's evidence on the land dispute and the threats he had documented. The hearing will continue before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Solicitor wrote to farm murder accused telling him to stop 'threats' and 'intimidation', trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering Ms Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018. Procedural stage: trial

When:

April 27, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
April 11, 2017 Other
April 27 Hearing Or Sentence
April 28 Other
November 2017 Other
December 6 Other
December 8 Other
January 5 Other
January 24 Other
2023-02-28 Publication

Why: She wanted to engage Mr McHugh to put the land on the market because she was "anxious to get a greater or enhanced rent", Mr Hyland said. CNI source report