Farmer fined €500 in ‘rubbish’ right-of-way row

Two farmers in dispute over a right of way were told their behaviour amounted to “shocking rubbish” by a judge who convicted one of them for assault.

Michael Burke, aged 57, from Clonakilty, Co Cork, was fined €500 for assaulting his neighbour, a farmer 30 years his junior.

Mr Burke told the court he was acting in self-defence as he was “in fear of his life” when he met David Beechiner in the disputed lane on June 20, 2013.