Father and son convicted over Laois boundary dispute

A father and son were convicted of an assault arising from a boundary dispute in Laois.

Hauliers Ciaran Sheehy (37) and Niall Sheehy (59) both of Ballinteskin,  Stradbally admitted assault and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour at Ballinteskin, Stradbally on October 8, 2022. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said the court had previously directed mediation in the case and although her clients tried to use the services of a mediator, she said the injured party didn’t want to engage. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said Ciaran Sheehy had threatened, assaulted and abused another man on the date in question. He said there was a victim impact statement in court but it had only been received on the day of the court hearing. He described it as a minor assault. The court heard the accused had eleven previous convictions. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the dispute was over a boundary and her client wished to apologise. 

“He does regret his actions on the day Judge,” she said. 

Judge Cody fined the man a total of €1,000 and gave him six months to pay. 

He said the second accused, Niall Sheehy, “misled the court previously” and he branded him “Lazarus’s brother-in-law” in relation to a previous case. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had six previous convictions. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the defendant was also involved in transportation. 

“The accused has no previous for anything of this nature,” she told Judge Cody. 

“This was in the context of a boundary dispute,” she explained. 

Judge Cody fined the man a total of €1,000 and imposed a two month sentence which he suspended for two years.  He fixed recognisance in case of appeal.