A FARMER who held a shotgun to a man's throat for 10 minutes in a dispute over the right to sell pedigree bull semen was yesterday ordered by a District Court judge to pay £1,000 compensation to the injured party.
Edward Barrett (29), of The Laurels, Lehanaghmore, Togher, Cork, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Michael McCarthy at Kingsland, Ballinhassig, Co Cork on December 12th, 1995 and to the unauthorised possession of a firearm.
The court was told Mr McCarthy was selling semen in the Cork area when he was lured to a farm at Ballinhassig by Barrett, who was using a false name. Barrett asked him about the price of the semen and what bulls it was from.
Barrett then invited Mr McCarthy to view his livestock in a shed, but when Mr McCarthy turned around Barrett had a shotgun. He grabbed him, put the shotgun to his throat and held it there for 10 minutes as he warned him against selling the semen.
The court was told Barrett believed he had the exclusive Irish rights to distribute semen from a flench bull, but when he discovered Mr McCarthy was selling semen from the same bull he became angry.
Barrett expressed remorse for his actions, which were totally out of character, said Det Sgt Michael Healy, adding that he accepted Barrett's word on the shotgun not being loaded at the time.
Judge John Clifford said Barrett had "a brainstorm". After making the order for compensation, he adjourned the two charges together with an application to bind Barrett to the peace until October 10th.