A Donegal man who left a new child foal to go on a celebratory consuming binge has been jailed.
A piebald foal was simply days previous when its proprietor Danny Connors left it alone at a property with unfastened canines.
The foal was subsequently attacked by two lurcher canines and suffered extreme accidents. The foal and each canines needed to be put down following the incident.
Danny Connors, aged 49, of Canal Street Letterkenny was at the moment sentenced to 12 months in jail by Choose John Aylmer on the Letterkenny Circuit Court docket.
Father-of-seven Connors, who has 35 earlier convictions, pleaded responsible to a cost of animal cruelty, opposite to the Animal Well being and Welfare Act, 2013.
Garda Barbara Doherty informed Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecuting, that she attended a property at Canal Street, Letterkenny, on January 16, 2020.
Garda Doherty stated a foal was mendacity outdoors the steady and he or she noticed a ‘massive wound’ on its proper hip.
The foal was shivering and unable to face up. After talking with ISPCA inspector Kevin McGinley, Garda Doherty returned at 6pm, by which period the foal was inside a shed.
A vet, Dr Leslie Smyth, arrived and stated the foal was ‘three of 4 days’ previous. The foal was unable to get to its toes and was shaking with an eight-inch wound that reached the animal’s skeleton. The courtroom heard that there was no ground protecting with simply ‘naked concrete and soil’.
Dr Smyth assessed the foal and stated the wound was in line with an assault by a canine whereas the mom of the foal was additionally within the shed.
The courtroom heard that the foal was ‘struggling unnecessarily’. Dr Smyth famous that the foal was septic, in ache and in discomfort. The situation was more likely to be deadly and the foal was subsequently put down.
Two lurchers have been additionally current on the location. The lurchers, with the consent of Connors, have been taken away by the canine warden and have been additionally put down.
When Gardai spoke to Connors and requested him who sorted the canines, he stated:
‘They simply do their very own factor. They simply run out and in of the sheds’.
Connors informed officers that he thought the foal had been given child powder in an try to cease the bleeding.
Connors paid €60 for the attendance of the vet and likewise made a donation of €40 to the ISPCA on the day.
The courtroom was knowledgeable that Connors has 35 earlier convictions for offences starting from street visitors, public order, theft and assault.
Barrister for Connors, Mr Ciaran Elders BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Michael Shiel, stated this was ‘not against the law of intent’.
“He has been elevating horses along with his father since he was about seven years of age,” Mr Elders stated. “This was an entirely unlucky accident. This was not an act dedicated by Mr Connors. There was no intent to inflict ache on the foal.
“It was his fault that the foal was injured, little doubt about that. It was in ache for too lengthy.”
Mr Elders stated Connors was delighted on the arrival of a piebald foal, a sought-after breed, having forked out €1,400 for a stallion to face for the mare.
“He did moist the foal’s head and went to city on wetting the foal’s head to the extent the place he didn’t deal with the foal itself,” Mr Elders stated. “It was a time of celebration for him that was a nightmare when the canines attacked.
“This was wholly unintentional, completely unexpected and completely with out intent.”
Mr Elders stated Connors now not has horses having offered a horse he had for racing functions. Mr Elders stated Connors is ‘deeply sorry’ for the incident.
A probation report stated that Connors ‘introduced genuinely contrite and unhappy’.
Choose John Aylmer stated the seriousness of the offence was mirrored within the penalties, with a most of 5 years imprisonment and/or a high quality of as much as €250,000 supplied for.
Choose Aylmer stated he positioned the culpability of Connors on the mid-range and stated the incident merited a place to begin of three years in jail. He stated he needed to have regard for the truth that Connors was knowledgeable of the assault and went to the scene, noticed the foal and proceeded to depart.
In mitigation, Choose Aylmer famous that Connors had no earlier convictions for animal cruelty and stated the accused ‘seems genuinely to be an animal lover all of his life’.
“The one rationalization for his behaviour, and it’s not an excuse, is the truth that he was consuming to extra.”
Choose Aylmer stated he accepted that Connors was remorseful and lowered the sentence to one in every of two years in jail.
“I take the view that this offence is effectively above the custody threshold and there should be a custodial ingredient,” Choose Aylmer stated.
The ultimate 12 months of the sentence have been suspended on Connors getting into right into a bond within the sum of €100 to maintain the peace and be of excellent behaviour for a interval of 12 months. Connors can be to be positioned below probation supervision for 12 months after his launch and was ordered to abstain from alcohol.
Connors was additionally banned from conserving or working with animals for a interval of 5 years.
Members of the family have been current in courtroom as Connors was led away by jail officers.
Donegal man jailed after neglecting new child foal to go on consuming binge was final modified: October twenty fifth, 2023 by
