A Co Galway farmer has been found guilty of using threatening, abusive and insulting words toward a neighbour during a dispute over a missing dog.
At Gort District Court, Judge Adrian Harris found Brian Gill, 44, of Cahermore, Kinvara, guilty over incidents on May 21, 2025, and February 2 this year. The judge did not convict Gill on either offence. He applied the Probation Act for one year and told Gill he must complete an anger management course if the Probation Service recommends one.
The court heard that Brian Murphy alleged Gill accused him of stealing the dog and said “I will get you” when the men met while driving at around 9pm on May 21, 2025, on a narrow road at Caherawoneen South, Kinvara. Murphy said he knew nothing about the dog and did not speak to Gill.
Gill said his dog went missing on May 19, 2025, and that he received a call on July 1 saying it was 35km away. “That dog did not walk 35 kilometres,” he said. Gill denied threatening Murphy. He said he asked where his dog was, Murphy called him a fool, and 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 declined to identify them. He said Murphy’s “sarcastic smile” raised his suspicions, though he did not think Murphy had the dog because the animal would not have gone to him. He described the dog as a “one person dog” and spoke of a sentimental attachment.
Defence barrister Martin Durack said there was an agrarian background and past disputes over fences. Durack put it to Murphy that there was animosity between the men and that they were not on each other’s Christmas card list. Murphy replied: “Every time I am on the road he causes trouble.”
Gill said he was angry because the matter had gone on for 10 years; it was the 15th time he had been in court over Murphy, directly or indirectly. Insp. Daragh Browne said Gill still believed someone had removed the dog. Judge Harris said there was clear ill feeling but that Gill should not engage in such behaviour.