A 73-year-old man has been ordered to behave himself for two years following the conclusion of a long running dispute with his neighbours.
The case, which was originally heard in June of last year was finalised by Judge Patrick Clyne who heard matters had eased considerably since the row between neighbours reached its climax.
On September 2 2008 Michael Corroon of Knockmant, Killucan had driven a loading shovel at his neighbour, digging up 86m of road, an Eircom pole, and lines.
He then drove at gardaí when they arrived before isolating himself in his house and refusing to come out.
At last year’s hearing of the evidence, Judge Neilan expressed his concern that Corroon consistently believed that he has been wronged by legal decisions giving his neighbour a right of way.
“He persists in holding a grudge regarding the Colgan family,” Judge Neilan commented, adding that he had “serious concerns” regarding their safety following the incident where 86m of road was “excavated” and the damage to phone lines impacted on 50 neighbours.
At last year’s hearing, Judge John Neilan observed that if Michael Corroon got “the entire county of Westmeath he would still want the county next door”. He has “an obsession with property as if he is going to bring it all up to the place of his eternal departure,“ he said in June of last year.
Judge Clyne said that Judge Neilan had originally ordered the man serve a 22 month sentence and be disqualified from driving for 15 years, but said he now wanted to interpret the retired judge’s order ‘flexibly’
On reading reports and hearing submissions from Mr Robert Marren, solicitor, he said the court could feel “reasonably confident matters had been addressed” between the two sides.
The court heard that Corroon’s own condition has stabilised and he is taking medication and “the temperature has dropped” in the relationship between Corroon and his neighbours.
Noting that the original sentence was put in place to monitor the 73-year-old’s situation, he placed him on a peace and good behaviour bond and a probation bond for two years.
