Michael Scott’s return revives fears of a Galway farmland dispute
Farmer Michael Scott returned to his farm in Gortanumera, County Galway, after serving just over three years in prison for the 2018 death of his aunt, Chrissie Treacy. His return has unsettled some locals, who fear that a longstanding dispute over farmland could flare up again; his neighbour Regina Donohue now farms land inherited from Treacy alongside Scott, who owns the other half.
Treacy’s 140-acre farm was divided equally between her and Scott in her brother’s will, and the dispute over ownership preceded her death. Scott was initially sentenced to six years after a murder charge was reduced to manslaughter by gross negligence; his sentence was cut on appeal last December. The article reports that locals hope a court arrangement has resolved the land dispute, but gives no details of its terms in the supplied text.
In short
- Michael Scott has returned to his County Galway farm after prison.
- Locals fear tensions over the disputed land could return.
- Regina Donohue now farms the land beside Scott.
Explained simply
Chrissie Treacy’s 140-acre farm in Gortanumera, County Galway, was divided equally between her and her nephew, farmer Michael Scott, under her brother’s will. A dispute over the land had begun before Treacy died in 2018.
Treacy’s neighbour, Regina Donohue, now farms the land she inherited, alongside Scott, who owns the other half. The case involves both the family’s inheritance and how the adjoining land is farmed, affecting people living and working in the local community.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘A killer has returned to his farm and fear stalks the countryside’. The inside story of how locals are dealing with farmer Michael Scott’s return, and the court deal they can only hope has settled the bloody land dispute…”.