A Galway farmer has been jailed for six years for the manslaughter of his aunt.
Michael Scott, of Gortanumera, Portumna, caused the death of 76-year-old Chrissie Treacy when he reversed over her in his JCB teleporter in April 2018.
Michael Scott was accused of deliberately running over his 76yo aunt, Chrissie Treacy in what the prosecution described as a long-running dispute over land.
Despite his claim to gardai that everything between them was fine, the judge noted the poor relationship between them, particularly in the 18-months prior to her death.
He insisted it was a tragic farming accident, claiming he didn’t see her when he reversed his JCB teleporter in the yard at the back of her house in April 2018.
A jury acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter, deciding his actions that day amounted to gross negligence.
One of the aggravating factors in the case was his failure to look over his left shoulder before reversing. The judge noted that if he had, he would have seen her.
She also said while he now expresses remorse for what he did, he didn’t do so in the immediate aftermath, and cared only about the consequences for him.
Scott, who turned 59yo this month, was then jailed for six years.
