Portumna murder trial hears care worker aware of difficulties with accused weeks before Ms Treacy’s death

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The trial of a Galway farmer accused of murdering his aunt has heard a care worker had concerns of difficulties between the two – weeks before her death.

Michael Scott, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, denies murdering Chrissie Treacy in April 2018; claiming it was a tragic farm accident.

Ms Treacy’s care worker has told the Central Criminal Court that issues around land become “more apparent” just weeks before she died.

It is the State’s case that Mr Scott deliberately drove over his aunt in an agricultural teleporter following a long-running dispute over land.

Mary Hanley, a support officer for Family Care Ireland, visited Ms Treacy annually to review her care.

Ms Hanley told the the court that about six weeks before Ms Treacy died, she became aware of the ongoing difficulties between Ms Treacy and her nephew over land.

Ms Hanley said that arising from those difficulties she had concerns for Ms Treacy’s welfare and later highlighted those concerns to her coordinator.

The trial continues today in front of Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of seven men and eight women.

Galway Bay FM