Cows removed as bitter dispute drags on

WHAT seemed like a sequel to John B Keane’s play The Field played out on a thistle-pocked patch of land in west Limerick yesterday under the watchful eye of a force of gardaí.

Fifteen “squatter” cattle were removed by the lawful owners of the 40-acre piece of land while their owner, Danny Doherty remains in Limerick prison, refusing to purge his contempt of court order that he has no right to the land.

Bachelor brothers Eddie and Matt Roche farmed the craggy hillside holding at Rathcahill, Templeglantine where they eked out a living with a few dairy cows.