From Galway Bay fm newsroom- The trial of a Galway farmer accused of murdering his aunt has heard a mistake was made in the garda report in relation to the workings of the teleporter which ran over Chrissie Treacy
Michael Scott, of Gortanumera, Portumna, Co Galway, denies murdering Chrissie Treacy in April 2018; claiming it was a tragic farm accident.
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.
Garda Eoin O'Connor told Mr Scotts trial that he was wrong when he wrote "any experienced operator" of the teleporter would be aware that to prevent the machine rolling they could leave it in gear and switched off.
He accepted the evidence of another teleporter operator that leaving it in gear would not prevent it from rolling.
Garda O'Connor added that he made the mistake as he is not an experienced operator of the machinery.
He told defence counsel Paul Greene SC that he was required to gather physical evidence, understand the environmental factors and investigate the driver's behaviour- but agreed he made a mistake when he wrote his report.
The trial previously heard that Mr Scott told gardaí that he was reversing the teleporter across the yard outside Ms Treacy's home, when he felt a "thump" and thought he might have hit a trailer.
He said that he moved the machine forward to prevent it from rolling, got down from the cabin and that was when he saw his 76 year old aunt lying on the ground.
The trial continues today in front of Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of seven men and eight women.
