Charges of assault and trespass at Cork house dismissed against Kerry landlord and his son

The court heard that Daniel Lynch and his son Donal 'were subject to quite an amount of invidious comment when this matter came before the court'

(Left to right) Daniel Lynch and his son Donal had all charges against them dismissed following a defence application at the close of the prosecution case. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Kerry landlord and his son at the centre of a case that attracted “an amount of invidious comment” had all charges against them dismissed on Tuesday by a judge who commented that young people residing in the house at the time were themselves trespassing and not paying any rent.

Judge Marian O’Leary said a property owner was allowed to use "proportionate force" to remove a trespasser. The defence claimed that people present in the house in Cork City were squatting.