British Retirees Escape Thai Jail After Violent Land Dispute

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of The BBC

 

Des and Mary Byrne, a British couple, have narrowly avoided a prison sentence in Thailand, receiving fines of 9,000 baht (£200) instead. Their ordeal began in 2020 when they retired to Thailand’s Thai Riviera, only to be embroiled in a violent dispute over land access, shattering their dream retirement.

 

Originally from Middlesbrough, the Byrnes had invested everything in a villa to enjoy their final years. However, a December confrontation with neighbours over damage to their garden escalated into a brutal attack. Des, 77, and Mary, 69, were savagely beaten by a British man and his Thai partner, caught on CCTV. Despite this, both were accused of inflicting harm.

 

In a peculiar twist, it was the Byrnes who ended up facing prosecution, while their attackers, who pleaded guilty, paid compensation. Both Des, a retired engineer, and Mary, a former nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic, found themselves facing potential jail time.

 

 

Relieved by the court’s decision, Mary's brother, Tim Maley, noted the judge’s modest sentencing, allowing the couple to reclaim their passports and plan their return to the UK. This followed a campaign by their family to engage the British Government, appealing to various officials.

 

Despite selling their beloved Hua Hin villa to fund legal fees, Des and Mary are preparing for their homecoming, hoping to leave the harrowing experience behind. The couple's saga highlights the potential dangers expatriates may face abroad.

 

Now cautiously optimistic, Des and Mary are ready to resume life in the UK, looking forward to a fresh start beyond the distressing events in Thailand. Their story underscores the challenges of living overseas but ends on a hopeful note as they anticipate returning to familiar, comforting surroundings, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-13

 

 

[Gaccha]

Let's be clear:

 

You cannot sell what you don't own. 

 

There was clearly no risk of prison, as anyone could see from reading about their case. 

 

The legal fees won't have cost much. 

 

Their campaign to get diplomats and politicians involved had no effect on the verdict.

[JoePai]

Thai legal system is crazy

[daveAustin]

Issues with access by the looks—property can be acquired btw if you know what you’re doing.

 Not going to comment further on this since we don’t know it all… probably connections through the other party’s woman (the perp)? Farang also by the looks. Maybe you’ll get a dose of karma in the future, dude! Beating up on old folks indeed!

[ikke1959]

Thai justice... happily no jail term because you defended yourself.. Youngsters against two old people in a country that preach and learn kids to respect the elderly and even the British man should know better as violence is never a good way to solve conflicts. And a good promotion not to retire in Thailand .... Stupidity of Thailand without borders.. 

[bkk6060]

Really happy things turned out OK for them. Hope they enjoy the rest of their lives back home.

[300sd]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a peculiar twist, it was the Byrnes who ended up facing prosecution, while their attackers, who pleaded guilty, paid compensation.

Speaks volumes!

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Relieved by the court’s decision, Mary's brother, Tim Maley, noted the judge’s modest sentencing, allowing the couple to reclaim their passports and plan their return to the UK. This followed a campaign by their family to engage the British Government, appealing to various officials.

 

Mission accomplished.

[KhunHeineken]

4 hours ago, Gaccha said:

Let's be clear:

 

You cannot sell what you don't own. 

 

There was clearly no risk of prison, as anyone could see from reading about their case. 

 

The legal fees won't have cost much. 

 

Their campaign to get diplomats and politicians involved had no effect on the verdict.

You missed the part about the assault.  

[KhunHeineken]

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

property can be acquired btw if you know what you’re doing.

Foreigners  CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

 

Old and tired debate.  The result ends up the same.  Foreigners CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

[KhunHeineken]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Really happy things turned out OK for them. Hope they enjoy the rest of their lives back home.

Why would they have to stay back home. 

 

Plenty of other more friendly retirement destinations to go to. 

 

Thailand is not the be all and end all. 

[Sickocock]

How low can you get by attacking elderly people.

[CG1 Blue]

Have we been told the name of the British bloke who attacked the elderly man? I haven't seen it in any of the press releases. 

Maybe he's being protected...

[Hellfire]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Their ordeal began in 2020 when they retired to Thailand’s Thai Riviera, only to be embroiled in a violent dispute over land access, shattering their dream retirement.

 

 

 

-- 2025-03-13

 

 

Dream retirement? Who can truly know what dreams this elderly couple actually had? Maybe their dream was to come to Thailand and take part in a grand scandal filled with shouting, brawls, and legal battles.

To hell with your boring ideas about a quiet and peaceful old age!

[connda]

I'm thinking this will do wonders for Thailand's image in the UK. 

Retire In Serene Peace-Loving Thailand - Live Your Dreams!

😬 Captain Obvious says, " The UK media is going to have a field day with this."

Note to potential retirees: 
Stay out of fights.  If in a fight, admit guilt, pay your fine, smile and wai with the aggrieved party, and take a group picture of the happy resolution, allow the media to cover your happy ending and print the story!  The Thai justice system prefers conflict resolution by all parties involved as opposed to adjudication. 

[bendejo]

From what I've seen in my travels, it's not all that unusual to find expats fighting with each other, and I don't mean in Thailand exclusively.  Some bring their lousy attitudes with them, others get drawn into the idiocy, like these 2. 

 

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a peculiar twist, it was the Byrnes who ended up facing prosecution, while their attackers, who pleaded guilty, paid compensation.

 

Translation: the attackers (the "British man and his Thai partner") had a better of understanding of how the Thai legal system and law enforcement functions.

 

[ukrules]

7 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Foreigners  CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

 

Old and tired debate.  The result ends up the same.  Foreigners CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

 

So what, they clearly leased it or something similar.

 

I have a couple of land leases myself, it's no biggie. By the time those 30 years are up I'll likely have moved on or really moved on.

[ukrules]

7 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Have we been told the name of the British bloke who attacked the elderly man? I haven't seen it in any of the press releases. 

Maybe he's being protected...

 

It is unusual for the victim to not have the name published in a small time case like this.

 

Also where are the photos of the victims pointing to the scene of the crime

[BritManToo]

12 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Thai justice... happily no jail term because you defended yourself.. Youngsters against two old people in a country that preach and learn kids to respect the elderly and even the British man should know better as violence is never a good way to solve conflicts. And a good promotion not to retire in Thailand .... Stupidity of Thailand without borders.. 

Like in many countries you have no right to defend yourself, the courts see it as fighting.

Best to run away.

[Aussie999]

38 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Like in many countries you have no right to defend yourself, the courts see it as fighting.

Best to run away.

"Like in many countries you have no right to defend yourself, the courts see it as fighting." Like in many countries you have the right of self defence.

[Ralf001]

no gofundme ?

 

am disappoint.

[Gecko123]

53 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Like in many countries you have no right to defend yourself, the courts see it as fighting.

Best to run away.

A right of self-defense is  virtually universal, and there is most certainly a right to self-defense under Thai law. 

 

See page 28 of 35: 

https://www3.ago.go.th/center/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Criminal-Code-1956.pdf

 

"If the participant in such affray can show that he has acted in order to prevent such affray or in lawful defense, he shall not be punished."

 

 

[Ben Zioner]

8 hours ago, connda said:

allow the media to cover your happy ending

Exhibitionist you are..

[Ben Zioner]

15 hours ago, JoePai said:

Thai legal system is crazy

Doesn't exist in Thailand, it isn't as system per se, only a set of traditions maintained to protect the powerful. There is no place in those traditions for foreigners.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

to Thailand’s Thai Riviera,

That's stretching it a bit

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of The BBC

 

Des and Mary Byrne, a British couple, have narrowly avoided a prison sentence in Thailand, receiving fines of 9,000 baht (£200) instead. Their ordeal began in 2020 when they retired to Thailand’s Thai Riviera, only to be embroiled in a violent dispute over land access, shattering their dream retirement.

 

Originally from Middlesbrough, the Byrnes had invested everything in a villa to enjoy their final years. However, a December confrontation with neighbours over damage to their garden escalated into a brutal attack. Des, 77, and Mary, 69, were savagely beaten by a British man and his Thai partner, caught on CCTV. Despite this, both were accused of inflicting harm.

 

In a peculiar twist, it was the Byrnes who ended up facing prosecution, while their attackers, who pleaded guilty, paid compensation. Both Des, a retired engineer, and Mary, a former nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic, found themselves facing potential jail time.

 

 

Relieved by the court’s decision, Mary's brother, Tim Maley, noted the judge’s modest sentencing, allowing the couple to reclaim their passports and plan their return to the UK. This followed a campaign by their family to engage the British Government, appealing to various officials.

 

Despite selling their beloved Hua Hin villa to fund legal fees, Des and Mary are preparing for their homecoming, hoping to leave the harrowing experience behind. The couple's saga highlights the potential dangers expatriates may face abroad.

 

Now cautiously optimistic, Des and Mary are ready to resume life in the UK, looking forward to a fresh start beyond the distressing events in Thailand. Their story underscores the challenges of living overseas but ends on a hopeful note as they anticipate returning to familiar, comforting surroundings, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-13

 

 

Not too much money to have learned Thai culture 🙏

[Lopburikid]

11 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Foreigners  CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

 

Old and tired debate.  The result ends up the same.  Foreigners CAN NOT own land in Thailand. 

They can only Lease it. 30 years, 30 years, 30 years totalling 90 years. You buy the house on one contract and lease the land on another contract. any other way is not legal.

[BritManToo]

Just now, Lopburikid said:

They can only Lease it. 30 years, 30 years, 30 years totalling 90 years. You buy the house on one contract and lease the land on another contract. any other way is not legal.

30+30+30 would be illegal and probably invalidate your original 30 year lease.

[ronster]

So all the hassle and legal fees etc for a £200 fine 🙈🙄

[What to do now]

You move to Thailand , have a dispute with neighbors, get your butt whooped, get fined, almost face jail time, lose your residence. But on the bright side after going nearly broke you can take your butt back home. Alls well that ends well. 😂 

 Seriously... avoid confrontation with Thai people ...the chances of you coming out on top are slim ...very slim.