Trump golf course lawyers defend staff taking photos of grandmother urinating

Lawyers representing Donald Trump's golf course have defended a staff member's decision to photograph a grandmother urinating.

They were speaking at the second day of a small claims court hearing brought against Trump International Golf Links by Rohan Beyts, 62. The activist claims her privacy was breached when a 23-year-old male greenkeeper photographed her relieving herself on the course.

The firm operating the course at Menie, Aberdeenshire — which Trump relinquished control of after becoming President — denies the claim.

Paul Motion QC, representing Trump Links International, said that if Beyts' claim was upheld it would have major ramifications for the "prevention of crime and the apprehension of offenders" in the future.

He argued that the greenkeeper, Edward Irvine, believed that Beyts was committing a crime and that it had therefore been "reasonable and fair" of him to take the photograph, as reported by the Independent.

Beyts, a long time opponent of the golf course, claims she was walking through the golf course towards an adjacent beach when she was struck with a sudden urge to go to the toilet. She told the court she suffers from a related medical condition.

A few days later police arrived at her home in Montrose to charge her with public annoyance for the act. The charges were subsequently dropped but she came to learn that she had been photographed while uriniating.

Betys, who is pursuing £3,000 (€3,500) in damages, previously told the court: "I couldn't see anybody, I was convinced of that. I'm not in the habit of urinating when there is anybody in view. I would be horrified. I just squatted down in the dunes."

Irvine said: "I took her picture for evidence that she was urinating in a public place. I believed that it was a criminal offence to do that."

The hearing continues.