Kerry turf wars: Alleged bog vandal lands in court
The KerrymanA Glanageenty man charged with damaging newly cut turf told a small-town court he would rather go to jail than avail of bail.
James Brian O’Connor of Galnageenty, Ballymacelligott, was the first case of the day at the November sitting of the one-room Cahersiveen courthouse.
And so, Mr O’Connor (62) had time to reconsider.
The court heard that Mr O’Connor believed the bog where the turf was harvested was his own.
It was alleged he damaged approximately €2,000 of newly cut turf belonging to Margaret Carmody at Muingaminnane, Castleisland on May 31, 2023.
A garda took the stand to relate Mr O’Connor’s statements to gardaí.
“I have registered title to that bog going back to 1984,” he said, claiming Ms Carmody’s land registration was “not a proper folio”.
The court heard that he said he had made formal complaints to gardaí about Ms Carmody’s ‘damage’ to the bog for years and he objected to her ‘so-called folios’.
“I was trying to stop criminal damage to my bog, which is also a priority habitat,” he said.
The State had no objection to bail and Judge David Waters set a bond at €200.
Mr O’Connor did not wish to avail of bail.
Judge David Waters noted Mr O’Connor was not in custody at the hands of the State but by choice.
“He can sign the bond here or in prison at any time and he’ll be released,” said the judge.
He accepted jurisdiction and ordered him to appear at Tralee Court via video link from prison.
Mr O’Connor sat on the hard bench that serves as the Cahersiveen dock for nearly two hours, alongside gardaí, while the judge went through the monthly list of charges and summons for Cahersiveen and Killorglin District Courts.
At 12.20pm, Mr O’Connor changed his mind and signed the bond.
The judge warned him against “any hint of a repeat” offence while on bail.
At the subsequent Tralee sitting his solicitor Brendan Ahern applied for disclosure.
The case is adjourned to December 17 for a plea or a date.