History repeating in Listowel land row, says assault suspect

A 40-YEAR-OLD Kerry farmer, charged with assault arising from an ongoing dispute with a neighbouring farming family, yesterday claimed his great grandfather had got a revolver from the State to protect himself from them.

John Leahy, single, of Meen, Listowel, said he was acting in self-defence when he struck Roger Carmody on the head with a hammer during a row about access to a field, on October 2, 2007.

He also said history was repeating itself in a dispute over a right of way to a land-locked, 5.5-acre field, known as the Meadow Bank.