At Cork Circuit Appeals Court last Friday, 20th March 2026, a 78 year old Cork man appealed the severity of a sentence imposed in April 2025 after he was convicted of animal cruelty and of obstructing authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Prosecution barrister Paula McCarthy told the court how Inspector Caroline Faherty visited the accused’s property on 13th April 2023 in response to another matter.
While there, she heard a dog crying out in pain and followed the noise. She found a young black Labrador type dog which was limping badly on its front right leg. The leg appeared to be injured and was very swollen.
Inspector Faherty seized the dog and took it for pain relief and veterinary assessment. X-rays confirmed that that the dog’s humerus was fractured into several fragments and the injury had been present for at least several days.
The only course of treatment was to amputate the dog’s leg.
The court heard that, during a later visit to the defendant’s property by Inspector Faherty and a Garda in October 2023, the defendant was obstructive and abusive.
Following submissions from the appellant’s barrister, Mahon Corkery, on the 78 year old’s poor circumstances and ill-health, Judge Sinéad Behan reduced a €1,500 fine to €350, but imposed a lifetime disqualification from keeping dogs in place of a 5 year ban handed down previously.
In doing so she commented, “This was dog in severe pain for a number of days. That has to be marked.”
After bravely undergoing his amputation, Dubh, as he was named by the NSPCA, was surrounded by compassion and expert care, giving him the time and support he needed to heal. Today we are pleased to say that Dubh is thriving in his forever home.
“I’m pleased the court recognised the seriousness of this cruelty and welcome the Judge’s decision to impose a lifetime disqualification from keeping dogs. A strong and necessary decision.
If you neglect a dog to the point of suffering, you don’t deserve a second chance at ownership.”
NSPCA Inspector Faherty
