A hardcore country fan who drove neighbours up the wall by repeatedly blasting out his music has defied a court’s attempt to silence him.
Partially deaf Michael O’Rourke had his record player confiscated after a spate of complaints from residents near his Peterhead home earlier this year.
But just weeks after the court order, police were called back to the 55-year-old’s property after neighbours reported he was back to blaring out his tunes – on a CD player.
Yesterday, O’Rourke, who has a long history of spats with neighbours, returned to Peterhead Sheriff Court and admitted two counts of causing annoyance by playing music at an excessive volume and failing to turn it down when told to by police.
The court heard that officers were first called to his home at 7 Gadle Braes, on May 25 – six weeks after his stereo was forfeited. And they were back again on Friday, June 20.
Sheriff Mark Stewart QC said a compromise had to be reached. “Someone should make a mark on the volume switch to show him what is an acceptable level,” he said. “It’s not rocket science.”
He told O’Rourke: “Your neighbours are entitled to live their lives without having to listen to your music.
“Some way will have to be found so that you can enjoy your music and for your neighbours to get some peace and quiet.”
O’Rourke was ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18 month supervision order.
Defence agent Stuart Flowerdew said his client had a “fairly extensive” record, but offences of this type had fizzled out after 2010.
They resumed when he moved into this new house, the court heard. “He moved property and with the new home, he had a new set of neighbours,” Mr Flowerdew said.
O’Rourke who was previously described by a sheriff as “the oldest raver in town” was once banned from a bingo hall for shouting “house” too loudly.
Last night, one nearby resident said: “He’s not a bad guy, he’s just got to do something about this music.
“He likes both kinds of music: Country and Western. You hear other stuff too, but whatever it is, it gets on your nerves when it gets played so loudly late at night.
“I hope this will be an end to it.”
