A Galway farmer has been found guilty of using threatening, abusive and insulting words against a neighbour during a long-running dispute that intensified after his dog went missing.
At Gort District Court, Judge Adrian Harris found Brian Gill, 44, of Cahermore, Kinvara, Co Galway, guilty of engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words against Brian Murphy with intent to provoke a breach of the peace over two incidents, on May 21, 2025, and February 2 this year. The judge did not convict him on either offence. Instead, he applied the Probation Act for one year and said Gill must complete an anger management course if the Probation Service recommends it.
The court heard that Brian Murphy alleged Gill accused him of stealing the dog and said "I will get you" when the two met while driving at about 9pm on a narrow road at Caherawoneen South, Kinvara, on May 21, 2025. Murphy said he knew nothing about the dog and did not speak to Gill.
Gill told the court his dog went missing on May 19, 2025, and that he received a call on July 1 saying the dog was 35km away. He said the dog did not walk 35 kilometres. He denied threatening Murphy, saying he asked where the dog was and that Murphy called him a fool. Gill said he replied that Murphy was "the only fool who sells top soil from his farm".
Gill said three people told him the dog had been seen in the back of Murphy's yard, but he declined to identify them. He said Murphy's "sarcastic smile" raised his suspicions, while adding that he did not think Murphy had the dog because the animal would not have gone to him.
Defence barrister Martin Durack said there was an agrarian background to the incident and past disputes over fences. Under cross-examination, Gill said he was angry because the matter had gone on for 10 years and that this was the 15th time he had been in court over Murphy, directly or indirectly. Insp Daragh Browne said Gill remained frustrated and still believed someone had removed the dog.
Judge Harris said there was context to the offences and clear ill feeling between the men going back some time, but that Gill should not engage in behaviour amounting to the offences.