Judge tells farmers: ‘Life is too short’ to be at war

Two West Cork men, who aren’t immediate neighbours but who own adjoining lands, were yesterday told by a judge “life is too short” to be at war with each other.

“I’m sure they are decent people and have other things to do rather than sit in a courtroom,” Judge John O’Neill said at Skibbereen District Court.

The background to what was described as a long, lingering dispute between the farmers was not divulged, but Judge O’Neill said: “I don’t want to know. What I have to say may go in one ear and out the other, but they should try and get on with each other instead of having this worry of going out on the road and afraid to meet their neighbour.”