Judge to decide if gardaí had right to arrest farmer

Complicated case law is being consulted to decide whether Kenmare gardaí were entitled to pursue an allegedly intoxicated Kerry farmer who was driving a 40-year-old tractor into the driveway of another person’s home in the early hours.

Gerry O’Shea, aged 56, of Ankail, Tahilla, Sneem, a small-holding farmer with six cows, is summonsed before Kenmare District Court accused of various offences in relation to the 1974 tractor he was driving in the early hours of November 26, 2012.

The charges include driving without due care and attention, driving in an intoxicated state, being on the road without a working rear light and without a rear number plate.