A Waterford man was sentenced to four years imprisonment following a confrontation with a Kilkenny farmer on the farmer’s own land.

Earlier this month, a jury found Mr Jimmy O’Reilly, of Kilbarry Halting Site, Waterford, guilty under Section 5 of the Non-fatal Offences against the Persons Act of 1997.

He was also found guilty of trespass.The incident in question took place on 3 February 2024, at Knock, Danesfort, Co Kilkenny, on the lands of Mr Edward Butler.

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Mr Butler became concerned when he saw a van parked near his lands. Mr Butler had in-lamb ewes on his farm, and was concerned for their safety.

Due to problems with trespassers in the past, and previous incidents where sheep had been attacked by dogs, Mr Butler had signs on all external gates and access points to the farm.

He had also placed an advert in the local paper, the Kilkenny People, stating that there was to be no hunting and no dogs on his lands.

Mr Butler noticed gates that had been closed were now open, and saw sheep exhibiting signs of having been worried.

Driving his jeep up the farm along the roadway, he saw three men walking with three dogs, lurchers. Two of the dogs were loose.

Mr Butler approached the men and asked them to leave his lands.

Two of the men responded, one of them, subsequently identified as Mr Jimmy O’Reilly, became aggressive.

He climbed up onto the gate that was separating the three men from Mr Butler.

In court, it was Mr Butler’s testimony that Mr Jimmy O’Reilly threatened to kill him and bury him, and said that he would hunt on Mr Butler’s lands every week for the rest of his life.

Crucially, the incident was captured on the dashcam camera, on Mr Butler’s jeep. While there was no audio, the jury watched the video footage.

Dashcam

When Mr Butler told the three men of the dashcam, they agreed to leave the farm. The men moved away, and Mr Butler called the gardaí.

An investigation revealed the men to be brothers – Mr Jimmy O’Reilly, Mr Thomas O’Reilly and Mr Danny O’Reilly.

Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Mr Jimmy O’Reilly to four years’ imprisonment on Wednesday, with the final 18 months suspended, provided Mr O’Reilly keeps the peace for the duration of his imprisonment and for two years following his release.

Mr O’Reilly must also give an undertaking not to approach within 5km of Mr Butler’s lands, or to approach or make contact Mr Butler in any manner.