Kenny agrees to talks over land row

Chat show host Pat Kenny agreed tonight to out-of-court talks to resolve a bitter ownership row with his elderly neighbour over a disputed patch of scrubland.

After almost three days of hearings in Dublin’s High Court, lawyers for the broadcaster and semi-retired solicitor Gerard Charlton revealed that they were prepared to go into mediation.

A settlement could save the losing side millions of euro in legal fees and avoid a potentially embarrassing trawl through years of rows and insults for the renowned presenter.

The warring parties, who live side by side in the exclusive Dalkey area, accepted an offer for a weekend of negotiations and it is understood lawyers went straight into talks behind closed doors.

A very business-like Kenny left the court declining to comment on the potential for a settlement, saying simply: “Off to work”.

Kenny, and his wife Kathy, and Mr Charlton, and his wife Maeve, have been locked in a bitter row over the ownership of Gorse Hill for several years.

The RTÉ presenter claims squatter’s rights over the quarter-acre after years of failed attempts to buy it from his 73-year-old neighbour.

The dispute came to a head in July 2006 after the Kennys erected an electric gate blocking the Charltons access to the overgrown rocky outcrop.

Ms Justice Clark urged the couples to think carefully before being asked to give evidence about the row and offered them time to mediate.

An hour of delicate talks failed to secure a deal but the judge agreed to adjourn the hearing until Monday afternoon.

“It is not easy for people to come back from the brink when everybody is ready to go,” she said.

“And I wish the parties the best of luck.”

Ms Justice Clark, who visited the disputed land yesterday, told the warring parties that what is said in court cannot be unsaid.

“You will continue to be neighbours at the end of the case. One of you will leave this court having lost entirely,” she said.

“You won’t both win. You will continue to live where you have lived for many years as neighbours.”

In a veiled warning of the effect a court case could have on their reputations, the judge added: “Both of the parties in this case have been fortunate in life and you have enjoyed considerable success and I have no doubt that you are very well thought of through your respective professions the length of the country.”

Judge Clark pleaded with the Kennys and Charltons to think carefully.

“You both live in very attractive houses, in very idyllic settings and you will hopefully go back and live there but it won’t be idyllic when the case is finished,” she said.

Ms Justice Clark has heard the background to the case which revealed that Kenny jostled Mr Charlton as he tried to get through the locked gate to Gorse Hill in July 2006.

The court has been told Mr Charlton has a paper title deed to the land and he has accused Kenny of effectively stealing the quarter- acre.

Last year, Kenny paid €5,000 for a special lease, known as an intermediate interest, blocking any development of the land.

The two sides have until 4pm on Monday to reach a settlement or the case goes back to court.