Yvonne Costelloe and the laws of nature

This has to be story of the week. Forget about global financial meltdown and come along the road to Carlow for something far more interesting.

Former Miss Ireland, and current actress, Yvonne Costelloe was in court recently over an unpaid debt. She was sued by an agricultural contractor when she failed to settle a bill for work he carried out.

The contractor billed Costelloe for €2,400 for spraying weeds on 30 acres of land and re-seeding 9 acres but he only received €400.

Her justification in court for not paying the bill? She was dissatisfied with the work as the reseeded field had grown thistles, nettles and ragworth.

In what seems like ignorance of the laws of nature and the requirements of keeping a field free of weeds, she added :

‘He knows very well I’m an actress. I have no idea about sprays and compounds. I asked him to do a job and he didn’t do it successfully. Various people have come to see the land, and have said it is a disgrace,’

The actress also got a dressing down from the judge for the forcefulness of her delivery of evidence.

‘You are in a court now remember, not on the stage,’ he said.

Before finding against Costelloe and directing the outstanding €2,000 be paid, the judge advised :

‘Those lovely green fields you see require sustained farm work.’

You couldn’t make it up.