Michael Scott of Portumna, Co Galway pleaded not guilty to murdering 76-year-old Chrissie Treacy on 27 April 2018
A Galway farmer has been found NOT GUILTY of murdering his aunt, but guilty of her manslaughter.
Michael Scott, of Gortanumera, Portumna, claimed he accidentally ran over 76 year old Chrissie Treacy in his JCB teleporter on the 27th of April 2018.
Following a lengthy trial, the jury was sent out on Friday and after considering the evidence, they have found Michael Scott NOT guilty of his aunt’s murder, but guilty of manslaughter. They’d been deliberating for fifteen hours.
The judge had told them to first consider the murder allegation and if they were not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Scott intended to kill or cause Chrissie Treacy serious harm, then they could find him guilty of manslaughter if they believed he was grossly negligent when he reversed over her in his JCB teleporter.
Mr Scott insisted he didn’t see her and that it was a tragic farming accident but the prosecution claimed he killed her because she was looking to formally partition prime farmland they co-owned in Portumna.
His sentence hearing will take place in June.

€1.2m Approved For Zipline And High Ropes Adventure Centre At Donadea
Christmas Appeal To Adopt Dogs As Euthanasia Figures Rise
Speed Enforcement To Increase In Kildare With 21 New Camera Zones To Be Rolled Out In January
Over 400 Motorists Caught Speeding So Far Today, Including A Driver In Kilcock
Transport Minister In Discussions With Irish Rail About Extending Late-Night Trains Beyond Christmas
Tadhg And Mary Should Be Looking Forward To Christmas, Say Gardai As Fresh Appeal Launched
Bus Shelters Treated As Luxury Rather Than Standard, With 500 Kildare Bus Stops In Need Of Upgrades
Recruitment Announcements Don’t Add Up As Garda Numbers Stagnant In Kildare South, Says Local TD