Farmer jailed for assault on neighbour

A hill farmer who ambushed and assaulted a neighbour on a remote road near the Cork-Kerry mountains was yesterday jailed for 12 months.

In evidence, father-of-four Brendan Kelleher, aged 53, blamed the break-up of his marriage on widower Martin Kelleher, aged 63 (no relation).

It also emerged the defendant’s daughter was Confirmed on the morning of the alleged assault but Brendan Kelleher did not go to the church ceremony and rejected a suggestion his emotions had got the better of him.