Farmer: I didn’t know felled forts were monuments

A farmer who demolished two fairy forts on his farm days after buying the land has told a court that he did not know they were fairy forts or ring forts.

As for the 2m-high circles of boulders, 30m and 60m in diameter, being recorded monuments, he said he had never heard that term before.

Pat Desmond, aged 41, of Curraghclough, Lissarda, Co Cork, bought his sixth farm at Knockacareigh, Kilmurray, Macroom. Mr Desmond now has 485 acres across the six farms.