Courts / Galway / Report
Farmer who subjected aunt to 'mental torture' before manslaughter spends first night in prison
Summary
Michael Scott, aged 59, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after driving an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt Chrissie Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, on 27 April 2018. The Central Criminal Court heard that Scott had been involved in a long‑running land dispute with Ms Treacy and had driven the teleporter across her yard while reversing. He claimed he had felt a "thump" and thought he had hit a trailer, then moved the machine forward, after which he discovered his aunt lying on the ground. A friend of Ms Treacy's, Regina Donohue, testified that Scott had subjected her to verbal abuse and mental torture before the incident. At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions said the offence falls in the mid‑category for manslaughter, recommending a headline sentence of four to ten years. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Farmer who subjected aunt to 'mental torture' before manslaughter spends first night in prison. Charges or matters: murdering his aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 26 Adjournment
- April 27, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2018 Other
- April 2019 Other
- Christmas 2017 Other
- 2023-06-12 Publication
Why: She said she will consider whether Scott was truly remorseful and genuine during his garda interviews and she noted that he said he didn't call emergency services because he didn't know that he could ring 999 to summon an ambulance. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murdering his aunt Christina 'Chrissie' Treacy (76) outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna, Co Galway on April 27, 2018 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Scott will spend his first night in prison tonight having been remanded in custody until Ms Justice Caroline Biggs passes sentence on June 26. At today's hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions said that Scott's offence falls within the mid-category for manslaughter and should carry a headline sentence of four to ten years.; Scott will spend his first night in prison tonight having been remanded in custody until Ms Justice Caroline Biggs passes sentence on June 26.
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