Man (30) who stabbed his dog eight times is jailed for four months

Killian McLoughlin, Slievemor View, Ballytivnan, Sligo was charged that he did stab a Staffordshire Terrier dog multiple times at 3A Upper John Street on August 24 2021.

Judge Murphy had previously heard details of the case at a court sitting in November.

The defendant’s mother had outlined to the court that she saw her son stab the dog and that he was not ‘in the right state of mind’.

The court also heard from Darren Carr, Veterinary Surgeon of Well Pet Veterinary Clinic who gave evidence of a dog being presented to him by a woman. The female dog was bleeding profusely and when he assessed it there were a lot of wounds.

She had eight wounds, four on each side measuring 20 to 30mm each. Some were bleeding more heavily. His primary instinct was to stop the bleeding. The dog was in shock and her body had lost quite a lot of blood. Thankfully, they got her stabilised and she was kept overnight where she was calm. The next day they sututred the wounds and it was four or five days before she was released into the care of the dog warden and the Sligo Co Council vet. The dog was then fostered.

At Thursday’s court, Judge Murphy said there was a full contest and a full hearing regarding the case. McLoughlin was convicted after cross-examination.

She said the Probation Report was ‘very concerning’. It said he had ‘no insight’ and ‘no remorse’. He was at the high-end risk of reoffending. He told his Probation Officer he previously had daily use of cocaine. She described the incident as a ‘callous’ act of violence on the family dog, his own dog, whom he stabbed eight times.

She said what was extremely concerning about it was there was no insight and no remorse. He was not suitable for a probation bond and was at the high-end risk of reoffending. She said she was sentencing him to five months in prison, with one month suspended for 24 months with conditions including he is to be of good behaviour.

Defending solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern asked her if she would consider suspending it on terms if his client could give money to a dog shelter or animal rights organisation to ‘hurt him in the pocket’.

Judge Murphy said she did consider it very carefully. She said it was fully contested and was at the highest level in this jurisdiction. She said in terms of mitigation, there was ‘little or nothing’. She said she was suspending one month to give McLoughlin an opportunity. She said she was also taking into account his previous convictions, including possession of knives.

She said it was a callous act to do to an animal and she could not see a custodial sentence. Recognisances were fixed.