A 58-year-old farmer has been found not guilty of the murder of his elderly aunt by running her over with a teleporter following a long running dispute about land, but guilty of her manslaughter.
Michael Scott of Portumna, Co Galway pleaded not guilty to murdering 76-year-old Chrissie Treacy on 27 April 2018.
He claimed her death was a tragic accident.
The jury of six men and six women delivered their unanimous verdict at 12.30pm after deliberating for over 15 hours over five days.
Ms Treacy had farmed 140 acres of land at Derryhiney in Portumna with her brothers. The farm was described in court as consisting of the “finest agricultural land”.
After her brothers died, the land was left divided between Ms Treacy and her nephew, who farmed all of it and was described as having an “almost childlike” obsession with land.
By April 2018, the court heard the relationship between Ms Treacy and Scott had completely broken down.
The court heard evidence that Ms Treacy intended to partition her land from the land owned by her nephew and that he was angry and resentful about this.
Ms Treacy had begun legal proceedings and a letter formally outlining Ms Treacy’s intentions in relation to the land was sent to Scott the day before Ms Treacy’s death.
The court also heard that neighbours and friends were concerned for her welfare and gardaà had been notified of these concerns a month before she died.
On 27 April 2018, Scott rang neighbour Francis Hardiman and told him that he had “hit Chrissie with the teleporter”.
Ms Treacy was found lying face down on the concrete near her home.
She had been run over with the teleporter and suffered multiple traumatic crush injuries.
State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan said she would have died “almost instantaneously”.
Mr Hardiman told the court he found Scott in a shed crying and shouting. Scott pulled a gun from his jeep and said: “I can’t deal with this.”
Mr Hardiman managed to take the gun from him while Scott roared: “I can’t live with what happened to me.”
Neighbours concerned for Chrissie Treacy
The court heard evidence from other neighbours and friends of Ms Treacy, who had been concerned about the breakdown of the relationship with her nephew.
Regina Donohue said she had encouraged Ms Treacy to move into a retirement home for her own safety, but Ms Treacy wanted to stay in her home.
The court also heard that the company who provided home care to Ms Treacy before her death sent their concerns to a HSE team leader, who also contacted gardaÃ.
On one occasion, while discussing the leasing of the farm with an agricultural consultant, Scott said “this will end badly”.
Prosecuting lawyers told the jury that Scott reversed over his aunt in a deliberate act of murder out of a sense of entitlement and revenge.
They said Scott’s claim that he did not see his aunt through the rear window of the teleporter was “self-serving, dishonest” nonsense.
Prosecution counsel Dean Kelly said the intensity and toxicity of the relationship between Ms Treacy and Scott was increasing with every passing week in the build up to her death.
He said there were incidents of general cruelty and unkindness, such as Scott refusing to bring her rubbish away and letting it pile up in her yard.
Mr Kelly reminded the jury of the “deliberate turning off” of Ms Treacy’s oil during very severe weather in early 2018.
He said the only explanation was that Scott turned the oil off to “torment” his aunt. He also noted the disappearance of Ms Treacy’s Jack Russell, Bradley in February 2018.
Defence lawyers said what happened was an accident.
Defence counsel Paul Greene said no matter how unkind or “monstrous” Scott’s behaviour was towards his aunt, that did not mean he should be convicted of murder because of what happened on 27 April.
Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told the prosecution to see if there were any family members who wished to give victim impact evidence during the sentencing hearing.
The prosecution asked for Scott to be remanded in custody because of the changed circumstances.
Defence counsel said Scott has no previous convictions, has answered his bail and asked that he be given an opportunity to settle his affairs.
Ms Justice Biggs remanded Scott on bail until 12 June for sentencing.
She said he called a witness a particularly gross name, which she said she was not going to repeat, but he has answered bail and will have his affairs in relation to his farm and livestock in order.
The judge also said as a consequence of the gross negligence manslaughter verdict, a charge which he did not originally face and one which was far less grave, she would allow him bail to put his affairs in order.
However, she said she did not want him to have any expectation of continuous liberty. He is to have no contact with witnesses and observe same terms and conditions.
Ms Justice Biggs thanked the jury and exempted them from jury service for life.
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Some mysteries remain about death of Chrissie Treacy
Michael Scott guilty of manslaughter of his aunt
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