Two neighbours have appeared in court after one accused the other of punching him twice in a row over a cow.
Gerard McGarvey of Golan, Milford claims that he was assaulted by neighbour Hughie McBride on the morning of July 8th, 2015.
McGarvey told Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday that he was going to work at Milford Mart when he noticed one of his cows had broken out and was in Mr McBride’s garden.
However, when he went to try and get the black Hereford cow out, he was prevented from doing so by Mr McBride.
He brushed past his neighbour and admitted trespassing onto his land to get his cow.
However, in evidence, Mr McGarvey claimed that he was punched twice in the head and on the ear by Mr McBride.
The cow eventually got off of Mr McBride’s land and Mr McGarvey said he later attended his doctor.
He was referred to Letterkenny General Hospital and then eventually on to see a facial specialist at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
Medical evidence was given that Mr McGarvey, 49, had suffered a fractured jaw and had to have a titanium plate fitted into his jaw.
The accused man, Mr McBride, strenuously denied that he assaulted his neighbour.
He claimed that he was simply fed up of Mr McGarvey’s animals coming into his garden.
Mr McBride and his wife claimed their garden had been destroyed by Mr McGarvey’s animals and that they had continually reported the matter to Gardai.
However, station officer at Milford Garda station said he had checked the Garda Pulse system and there was just one report of a sheep coming onto the McBride garden.
The accused man said he did not like to say so but he swore on his children’s lives that he did not assault the alleged victim.
He said he had contacted the Bovine Office and then the cow pound in Cavan who impounded stray animals until they were paid for by their owners.
Barrister for Mr McBride, Peter Nolan, put it to Mr McGarvey that his animals were constantly straying into his client’s property.
He said was the real reason he had accused his client of assault was because he owed his client €450 for silage he had not paid for. Mr McGarvey admitted that he owed the money for the silage.
The case continues today.