On 9th July, at Carlow District Court, a 39 year old Wicklow man was sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for 24 months, and banned from ever owning animals again having previously pleaded guilty to 32 counts of dog cruelty at a court hearing in May.
At that time, Senior Inspector Fiona Conlon of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) described conducting an inspection of the accused’s property in October 2024, which led to 11 dogs being removed from his care for urgent medical treatment.
Inspector Conlon told the court that several dogs were found to be severely underweight, including an emaciated brindle Lurcher described as “skin and bones”, and French Bulldogs whose ribs, hips and spine were clearly visible. One French Bulldog was bleeding from its ear and had lost part of it.
At the July sentencing, Judge Carthy said that the defendant had failed to meet the dogs’ “basic welfare needs as they had no access to clean water or food” in the kennels they were housed in on the property. She reminded the court that the dogs were found in filthy conditions among “faeces and pools of urine”.
Judge Carthy acknowledged that the defendant denied being an illegal dog breeder, however she said that he met the legal threshold to be considered as one.
The court heard that €6,100 of NSPCA costs totalling €13,059.43 incurred in looking after the dogs involved had been paid since the May hearing. Judge Carthy expressed astonishment at the fact that the full costs not been paid, considering that the defendant had told NSPCA inspector Conlan that he was “not stuck for money”. She ordered that the balance be paid within 12 weeks or the defendant would be re-entered in court to activate his sentence.
In addition to the suspended sentence, disqualification order, and NSPCA costs, the Judge imposed a €5,000 fine and ordered that the defendant pay prosecution costs of €3,000. She also instructed that other dogs remaining in his care be given up to the NSPCA and they were subsequently removed.
Before concluding her sentencing Judge Carthy addressed the counsel for the defendant saying “Your client is fortunate to walk out of this court with his liberty. I think I have been more than fair”.
Reflecting on the case Inspector Conlon said: “This was an exceptionally difficult investigation. Throughout our inquiries we encountered repeated obstruction, and despite the serious welfare concerns identified, Mr Jackman repeatedly maintained that he would get his dogs back. Our focus, however, was never on the challenges we faced, but on ensuring the animals were removed from suffering and received the urgent veterinary treatment and care they needed.
We are pleased the court recognised the severity of the suffering endured by these dogs and imposed a sentence that will help protect animals from future harm. Importantly, the court not only disqualified the defendant from keeping animals, but also prohibited animals from being kept at his property. This case demonstrates the importance of thorough investigations and the vital role the courts play in safeguarding animal welfare.”
