Main witness was ‘blinded by anger’

A Wexford businessman on trial for allegedly forging the will of a bachelor farmer said the prosecution’s witness was ‘blinded with anger’ against his own brother who is accused of forging the same will.

The accused, Noel Hayes, from Ramsgrange, Co Wexford said the witness Charles O’Leary’s “anger and vengeance against co-accused, William O’Leary, blinded every part of his life”.

Noel Hayes, aged 61, and William O’Leary, aged 51, from New Ross, Co Wexford have pleaded not guilty to forging the will of Matthew Hayes on a date between December 1998 and January 1999.

Charles O’Leary previously pleaded guilty and received an 18 month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay €30,000 into an account pending for the next of kin.

Charles O’Leary was awarded around €3m in a High Court case against the company he had run with his brother. Noel Hayes said he was also a shareholder in a profitable vegetable company with Mr O’Leary but he had wanted to close the business as William O’Leary was making money from it.

Mr Hayes said that when he voted against him to be stood down from that company’s board of directors Charles O’Leary told him: “I’ll put you two fuckers in jail, or something to that effect. He was ranting and raving.”

Mr Hayes said Matthew Hayes and two other relatives who lived on the farm had told him that they wanted him to inherit the farm before they died.

Mr Hayes said the will was drawn up and signed on August 31, 1998. Matthew Hayes died on Christmas Day of that year.

The trial continues .