A Portumna farmer who was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for killing his elderly aunt after he drove over her in an agricultural teleporter has appealed the severity of his six-year sentence.
Lawyers for 60 year old Michael Scott said that he had led a "blemish-free life" and was 53 years old when he killed his aunt, Chrissie Treacy aged 76.
Michael Bowman SC, for Scott, said his client's conviction came on the basis that he had failed to keep a proper lookout or use proper caution while reversing across the yard outside Ms Treacy's home.
Mr Bowman argued that given all the circumstances, the eight-year headline sentence identified by the trial judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs was too high.
He said the judge had made an error by putting the case at the higher end of the mid-range for manslaughter type offences.
Michael Scott, of Gortanumera had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Treacy outside her home in Derryhiney, Portumna on 27 April, 2018.
Following a trial in 2023, a jury found Michael Scott not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the basis of gross negligence.
