Simply Red musicians Mick Hucknall and Christopher De Margary have clashed with a neighbour over fishing and shooting rights on adjoining estates in Co Donegal.
Lead singer Hucknall and saxophone player De Margary claimed in Letterkenny Circuit Court today that their neighbour John Wilde had interfered with their rights and those of their guests on the Glenmore Estate at Welchtown, Ballybofey, Co Donegal.
Mr Wilde runs a neighbouring estate across the River Finn at Cloghan Lodge.
Keen anglers Hucknall and De Margary claimed that since they purchased the fishing, shooting and other rights for €1.3 million at Glenmore on August 5th, 2005, Mr Wilde had interfered with their “quiet enjoyment” of those rights.
They said Mr Wilde had also laid claim to the ownership of the rights on Glenmore.
Mr Wilde claims the previous owner of Glenmore, John Mackie, transferred the fishing and shooting rights to his father.
The musicians sought an injunction preventing continued encroachment until such time as a full hearing takes place.
Damian Crawford, BL, for Mr Wilde, told the court his client was anxious to have the matter resolved as he was expecting a shooting party from France on Saturday.
Judge John O’Hagan described the proceedings as “a fire brigade exercise”.
He said the case had “been simmering” since 2005. He added: “It’s likely to take years to sort it out.” The judge adjourned the hearing for 15 minutes to allow the feuding parties an opportunity to “sort it out.”
When the hearing resumed he was told the parties couldn’t reach agreement Mr Peter Nolan, BL, for the Simply Red members, said: “We’re happy to undertake not to interfere with Cloghan if we get a similar undertaking from Mr Wilde in relation to Glenmore.”
Judge O’Hagan adjourned the proceedings until next Friday to give Mr Wilde an opportunity to enter a reply to the claim by Hucknall and De Margary.
The Simply Red members have developed a large tourism business, attracting continental game-sports parties, since 2005. They do not own the land on which they have the fishing and shooting rights.