A JUDGE said yesterday the fabric of Irish society was being destroyed. He was speaking in the case of an elderly farmer who told the Mallow Circuit Court he slept with a shotgun by his side.
Judge Cyril Kelly dismissed a claim for £30,000 damages brought by two Mallow men who were shot at by Mr Daniel Cronin, of Ballyvintner. They were "lamping rabbits" on his land late at night.
The judge said it would be an affront to the community if he gave money to Mr Cornelius Ryan (19) and Mr Michael O'Driscoll (23) both from Connolly Avenue, Mallow, Co Cork, who sued Mr Cronin for damages arising from an incident in which Mr O'Driscoll was bit in the head by shotgun pellets on March 23rd, 1994.
Mr Cronin said he was frightened because there was a series of robberies near his home. He was the victim of a previous robbery which resulted in him selling his farm and moving in with his 81-year-old sister.
He said he was awakened at midnight by strong lights shining in his window and was petrified. He went outside taking his shotgun with him and saw two people about 150 yards away, one of whom appeared to be carrying a slash hook.
Mr Cronin discharged his shotgun and the men did not move. He fired another shot and they moved slowly down the field. He fired again into the air and they moved off the land.
Mr Ryan and Mr O'Driscoll said they ran when they heard the first shot.
"I felt something hit my head. I felt the spot and there was blood on my hand. We ran," said Mr O'Driscoll, who denied they had slash hooks.