British couple relieved with fine after Thai assault incident
A retired British couple, Mary and Desmond Byrne, have expressed their relief after being fined rather than facing imprisonment in Thailand following an attack by their neighbours.
The couple, aged 69 and 77, were fined £200 each after being found guilty of causing "superficial injuries and mental anguish".
They faced violent retaliation from kickboxing neighbours during an altercation over access to a shared garden in December 2023. Despite being attacked, the Byrnes were charged for injuries sustained during the incident, leading to their conviction.
Tim Maley, Ms Byrne’s brother, confirmed that the couple’s passports would soon be returned, thus allowing them to board their flight back home. The authorities had confiscated their passports during a police raid at their residence, resulting in the couple selling their villa to cover legal expenses.
Despite their situation improving, Mr Maley said the couples are anxious about their travel back to the UK. “They are very nervous and won’t be popping any champagne corks yet,” he said.
The Byrnes emigrated to Thailand from Middlesbrough in 2021, hoping to enjoy a peaceful retirement in the resort city of Hua Hin. The conflict with their neighbours escalated significantly with accusations of severe assault during the incident, but their neighbours later pled guilty to charges against them.
