A 62-year-old Kerry farmer charged with the murder of a neighbouring tillage farmer in April has been sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court, according to reports.

Last week, Michael Ferris, of Rattoo, Ballyduff, appeared before Tralee District Court, reports Radio Kerry.

Judge James O’Connor sent Ferris forward for trial to the criminal court – where indicatable offences are heard by both a judge and a jury – on a single charge of murder.

Ferris – who is currently in custody in Cork prison – was previously charged with the murder of 72-year-old Anthony O’Mahony on April 4 at Tralee District Court, with the defendant arrested and held at Listowel Garda Station shortly after the alleged incident.

During the short briefing, the defending solicitor Frank Buttimer reportedly told the judge that Ferris had been granted bail by the High Court but had not taken it up yet, with his client remaining silent throughout the briefing.

Ferris was accused of murdering O’Mahony just outside of Rattoo, in north Co. Kerry, after the tillage farmer died of multiple trauma injuries when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a teleporter (otherwise known as a telehandler or telescopic handler) driven by Ferris.

Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 8:45am on the morning of the incident; O’Mahony was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed that both men knew each other prior to the incident; following the incident, it emerged that the alleged conflict could have arisen as a result of a ‘bird banger’.

Anyone charged with murder is sent forward by a District Court Judge to the Central Criminal Court (High Court) for trial by jury provided consent is granted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In criminal cases, the High Court Judge sits with a jury of 12 – a verdict does not need to be unanimous in cases where there are at least 11 jurors and ten agree on a verdict after a reasonable amount of time has passed.