A farmer who ran over an elderly German tourist with his 1980- registered tractor at one of the country’s best-known tourist spots was fined €1,250 yesterday.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keys said that banning John Boyce (57), Moyhill, Cratloe, Co Clare, a father of two, from driving would be akin to taking tools from a tradesman.

At the court earlier last month, a jury unanimously found Boyce guilty of careless driving relating to the fatal crash of his Massey Ferguson tractor into Inge Schmidt (76) at a pedestrian crossing at Low Road, Bunratty, on October 29th, 2010.

Boyce was tried on the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Schmidt but the jury unanimously cleared him of that.

At the sentencing hearing yesterday, Judge Keys said there were a number of aggravating factors.

These included the condition of Boyce’s tractor, in … Read More »

An Irish traditional singer is suing historian Prof Diarmaid Ferriter claiming the cover of the academic’s book on the Pioneers depicts him as an alcoholic.

Tim Lyons, Athenry, Co Galway, claims a photo of him with two pints of stout on the cover of Prof Ferriter’s A Nation of Extremes – The Pioneers in Twentieth Century Ireland depicts him as an alcoholic. He is also suing the book’s publisher, Irish Academic Press.

Ennis Circuit Court heard Prof Ferriter said he had no input into the selection of the photograph.

Dismissing Prof Ferriter’s application to have the action struck out, Judge Gerald Keys said: “How could I deal with the defence of innocent publication without hearing from everyone?

You would have to have a full trial of the action to establish if the author is entitled to that relief.” Peter Clein, for Mr Lyons, said … Read More »