Judge’s ‘admiration’ for man who felled 296 trees

The owner of one of the biggest country estates in Ireland has escaped with a €100 for the illegal felling of 296 ash trees at the estate.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan imposed the fine on Kevin Farry of Newhall Estate outside Ennis, and also declined a State application for costs against Mr Farry.

Mr Farry pleaded guilty to the illegal felling that occurred in February of last year. The State stated that the fine that applied in the case totalled €18,793.