Kennys maintained disputed land as ‘nature reserve’, court hears

RTÉ broadcaster Pat Kenny and his wife Kathy claim they maintained part of disputed lands on Gorse Hill in Dalkey as a “nature reserve” for foxes and badgers and have a legal claim over it since 1991, which prevents any development of the lands, the High Court heard.

Mr Kenny also claims his neighbour Gerard Charlton physically assaulted him by slamming the garden gate of Gorse Hill onto Mr Kenny’s arm during an alleged incident in July 2006.

The Kennys also claim that, on January 3, 2007, while they were away on holidays, Mr Charlton and his son-in-law Corry McMahon had rushed through gates leading to the Gorse Hill property as they were being opened by a female caretaker for the Kennys and then pulled down bird boxes and bird feeders. The caretaker ran into the Kennys’ home in fear for her safety and called the gardaí but before the gardaí arrived, Mr Charlton and Mr McMahon climbed over the gates and went away, it is claimed.