Courts / Galway / Report

Farm murder accused 'would and should' have seen aunt if he'd turned while reversing, investigator tells trial

Date
2023-03-08

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Portumna

County
Galway

Summary

During the Central Criminal Court trial, Detective Garda Eoin O'Connor testified that Michael Scott, 58, who denies murdering his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy, would and should have seen her if he had turned his head while reversing an agricultural teleporter. O'Connor explained that Ms Treacy's age and mobility made it unlikely she could have appeared at the point where her body was found, and that she would have been observable moving across the yard. He described the teleporter's sight‑lines, noting a large blind area to the right and rear, and argued that a driver would normally look over the left shoulder when reversing. O'Connor also examined tyre marks, the teleporter's speed in second gear, and the yard's slope, concluding that the vehicle could not have rolled over a hitch 0.48 m above the ground. The evidence will continue tomorrow before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of eight men and seven women. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Farm murder accused 'would and should' have seen aunt if he'd turned while reversing, investigator tells trial. 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 Other
2023-03-08 Publication

Why: He was aware that in a voluntary interview given by Mr Scott to gardai, the accused said that he thought he had struck a trailer but before he stopped to check for damage, he drove forward because he was concerned that the machine might roll on the yard surface. CNI source report