Accused: I didn’t threaten to kill, I asked him to smile

A 67-year-old Co Clare man told gardaí that he never threatened to kill his neighbour, but instead asked him to smile.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, evidence was heard that retired Department of Agriculture officer Martin McLaughlin denied threatening to kill neighbour Ray Crowley, 41, on September 24, 2011.

In interview, Garda Barry O’Grady put it to Mr McLaughlin that he had been cutting trees and hedges at the front of the Crowley property and Mr Crowley asked him to stop.