A good Samaritan who helped retrieve a stolen cattle crush has been described by a judge as “the best neighbour in the world”.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring was impressed by the actions of “eagle-eyed” John Murphy, of Tallaght, after he spotted his neighbour’s cattle crush in a car park hooked up to a vehicle he didn’t recognise.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Mr Murphy phoned the rightful owner of the cattle crush - a steel cage used to hold cattle - before engaging the man in conversation until gardaí arrived.
William Maughan (45 ) of Lake Roade, Moate, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen cattle crush at the Old Bawn Road, Tallaght on February 27, 2012. He received a suspended sentence.
Garda Conor Flemming told Cormac Quinn BL, prosecuting, that Mr Murphy became suspicious when he spotted the “distinct cattle crush” in a car park.
Mr Murphy phoned his neighbour, Myles Murphy, who said that the gates to his farm were open and there were skid marks leading onto the road.
Mr Murphy said he would phone gardaí and asked his neighbour to distract the man to give them time to arrive.
Garda Flemming told the court that Mr Murphy then approached Maughan and asked him where he got the device. Maughan claimed to have bought it for €70 in a field from a man named Paddy.
Maughan, a father-of-five with 16 previous convictions, was arrested at the scene and later admitted that he planned to sell the cattle crush for scrap metal, and expected to get about €100 for it.
Garda Flemming said the metal device was made for Mr Murphy by another neighbour, and cost about €300 to build, but had been modified and improved over the years.
Garda Flemming agreed with James Dwyer BL, defending, that his client had paid €150 to the victim and expressed remorse.
Mr Dwyer added that his client has since found employment “with horses”.
Judge Ring described Mr Murphy as “the best neighbour in the world” and said the cattle crush probably wouldn’t have been recovered if it wasn’t for his actions.
“It was John Murphy’s eagle eye that spotted the cattle crush and he had the forethought to contact his neighbour, and even delayed Mr Maughan until gardaí arrived,” she said.
“Myles Murphy is blessed with his neighbour John Murphy,” she continued.
Judge Ring noted that Maughan has a long history of offending and currently has a two year suspended sentence hanging over him for a previous conviction, as well as a 200 hours community service order.
She handed down a two year suspended sentence, and suggested that Mr Murphy share a drink with his neighbour, adding “That’s not an order though”.
