DPP file into death of farmer

GARDAÍ are to prepare a file for the DPP after a farmer died of a massive heart attack, minutes after he was allegedly assaulted during a row over land.

A senior Garda source confirmed that the file would be prepared in relation to the death last Tuesday of 65-year-old John Twomey.

The pensioner and his 68-year-old brother, Pat, had been carrying out some land reclamation works at their farm in Co Cork when a confrontation is alleged to have ensued with another man.

It is believed the brothers and the third party had been involved in a long-running feud over a boundary at their farm at Mount Rivers, Rylane.

The brothers claimed they were attacked shortly before 3pm. They managed to make their way back to the farmhouse and contacted the emergency services.

The injured men were taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, but on the way John Twomey suffered a massive heart attack.

Frantic efforts were made by the ambulance crew to stabilise him. However, Mr Twomey was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

A postmortem carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster confirmed that a heart attack was the cause of death.

Pat Twomey remains in a comfortable condition at Cork University Hospital, where he was treated for injuries to his head and torso.

Gardaí from Macroom spent two days combing the field at the centre of the land dispute, looking for evidence to included in the file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardaí are asking anyone who may have seen the incident last Tuesday to contact Crookstown Garda Station on 026 20590.