Donegal man jailed after neglecting new child foal to go on consuming binge

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 free canine.

The foal was subsequently attacked by two lurcher canine and suffered extreme accidents. The foal and each canine needed to be put down following the incident.

Danny Connors, aged 49, of Canal Street Letterkenny was at this time sentenced to 12 months in jail by Decide John Aylmer on the Letterkenny Circuit Courtroom.

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 instructed Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecuting, that she attended a property at Canal Street, Letterkenny, on January 16, 2020.

Garda Doherty mentioned a foal was mendacity outdoors the secure and she or he 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 era the foal was inside a shed.

A vet, Dr Leslie Smyth, arrived and mentioned the foal was ‘three of 4 days’ previous. The foal was unable to get to its ft and was shaking with an eight-inch wound that reached the animal’s skeleton. The courtroom heard that there was no flooring overlaying with simply ‘naked concrete and soil’.

Dr Smyth assessed the foal and mentioned the wound was according to 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 had been additionally current on the positioning. The lurchers, with the consent of Connors, had been taken away by the canine warden and had been additionally put down.

When Gardai spoke to Connors and requested him who taken care of the canine, he mentioned: 

‘They only do their very own factor. They only run out and in of the sheds’. 

Connors instructed officers that he thought the foal had been given child powder in an try and 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 site visitors, public order, theft and assault.

Barrister for Connors, Mr Ciaran Elders BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Michael Shiel, mentioned this was ‘not a criminal offense of intent’.

“He has been elevating horses together with his father since he was about seven years of age,” Mr Elders mentioned. “This was a completely 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 mentioned 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 handle the foal itself,” Mr Elders mentioned. “It was a time of celebration for him that changed into a nightmare when the canine attacked. 

“This was wholly unintended, completely unexpected and completely with out intent.”

Mr Elders mentioned Connors now not has horses having offered a horse he had for racing functions.  Mr Elders mentioned Connors is ‘deeply sorry’ for the incident. 

A probation report mentioned that Connors ‘introduced genuinely contrite and unhappy’.

Decide John Aylmer mentioned the seriousness of the offence was mirrored within the penalties, with a most of 5 years imprisonment and/or a superb of as much as €250,000 supplied for. 

Decide Aylmer mentioned he positioned the culpability of Connors on the mid-range and mentioned the incident merited a place to begin of three years in jail. He mentioned 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, Decide Aylmer famous that Connors had no earlier convictions for animal cruelty and mentioned the accused ‘seems genuinely to be an animal lover all of his life’.

“The one clarification for his behaviour, and it’s not an excuse, is the truth that he was consuming to extra.”

Decide Aylmer mentioned he accepted that Connors was remorseful and diminished the sentence to certainly one of two years in jail.

“I take the view that this offence is properly above the custody threshold and there have to be a custodial component,” Decide Aylmer mentioned.

The ultimate 12 months of the sentence had been suspended on Connors getting into right into a bond within the sum of €100 to maintain the peace and be of fine behaviour for a interval of 12 months. Connors can be to be positioned underneath 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 had 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 Workers Author