‘Threat to kill’ trial moved from Galway

The trial of a hotel director, charged with threatening to kill his neighbour, which was due to be heard in Galway later this month, has been moved to Castlebar in Co Mayo for logistical reasons.

David Corbett (48) of St Cleran’s, Craughwell, is charged with making threats to three men, on separate dates between January 1, 2012 and February 28, 2014, that he would kill or cause serious harm to Ian Quinn, who owns St Cleran’s House.

Mr Corbett is also charged with harassing Mr Quinn at St. Cleran’s on dates between March, 2012 and July 2015.

The matter had been listed for trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court, beginning on November 28 next.   Mr Bernard Madden SC, defending, indicated to the court that the trial would take five to six weeks.

Judge Rory McCabe said the criminal lists in Galway were already quite full and could not accommodate such a lengthy trial before Christmas.

He transferred the trial to Mayo and listed it for hearing at Castlebar Courthouse before another judge, beginning on Monday, November 27.

St Cleran’s House was owned by film director John Huston and his family from 1954 to 1971 and was bought in 1997 by American actor and chat show host Merv Griffin, who converted it into a hotel which closed in 2008. Mr Quinn bought the 12,000 square foot manor house and adjoining 43 acres of land for use as a family home in 2012.