Tom Tuite
A judge has ordered the widow of murder victim Jason Hennessy Sr to pay over €11,000 for the care of her four XL Bully dogs, seized in Dublin after one escaped and terrorised gardaí.
Veronica Maher (54) pleaded that her four beloved restricted breed pets were all she had to remember her late husband, who was shot dead in a Blanchardstown steakhouse on Christmas Eve, 2023.
Ms Maher, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, came before Dublin District Court on May 28th to challenge a Garda application under the Control of Dogs Act for an order to destroy Oddie, Reggie, their mother Medusa, and the fourth dog, Joe.
They have been in a dog pound and given veterinary attention since being taken from Ms Maher on April 4th.
Granting a destruction order for all four, Judge Anthony Halpin had noted evidence of six gardaí at the scene on March 28th when four officers fled from Oddie, who escaped from Ms Maher’s garden.
He accepted they had to take “evasive action to save themselves from being savaged by an XL Bully dog.” He said they were terrified, and “I can only imagine the utmost horror which they experienced.”
However, Ms Maher is to appeal, attempting to overturn the ruling in the Circuit Court about Oddie and possibly bringing a judicial review of the destruction order being extended to the other three dogs.
This has led to a temporary halt on the animals being put down pending the outcome of the appeals.
On Wednesday, the case resumed, and she appeared again before Judge Halpin to consider costs.
Garda Sergeant Michael Harkin said the upkeep of the dogs for the past nine weeks was €10,716, and there was a €500 vet’s bill.
Judge Halpin granted the costs order for Ms Maher to pay €11,216 but also acceded to Ms Maher’s lawyer’s application for a transcript of the original hearing for the appeal.
During the earlier hearing, Judge Halpin said Oddie “left the premises and pursued the gardaí was dangerous and could easily have fatally wounded one or all those gardaí,” he remarked.
Visibly upset, Ms Maher denied opening a gate to unleash the unmuzzled dog on gardai patrolling in her cul-de-sac.
She said the dogs were part of her family, like their children, and Oddie slept in her king-sized bed.
The judge also noted evidence that she had these dogs to protect the property.
She testified that three-year-old Oddie jumped the front garden wall, and she denied the accusation that she set the dog on the garda. She also claimed Medusa had also been in the yard at the time.
The court heard the other two were in cages in the back garden, and Oddie had already damaged a rear garden exit.
Garda Sean McLoughlin alleged that when he got near her house, she told him, “Get the f**k away from my house yous murderers”.
He was in absolute fear for his life that he would be viciously attacked by the dog, which chased and tried to bite him. He alleged she let the dog out her front garden gate.
He and three colleagues fled to different gardens, with one standing on a wall until backup arrived a few minutes later.
He believed that Oddie was a credible threat and he would be set on them again.
Ms Maher brought the dog back into the house, and she denied telling gardaí, “If yous don’t fuck off now, I’ll get him back out here.”
Witness Kayleigh McEntee (26), of Waterville Row, Blanchardstown, was at the house and contradicted the evidence that Ms Maher opened the gate. She also said the dogs were safe and often around children.
Three more gardaí said they also had had to flee to gardens in the cul de sac, with one telling Judge Halpin that he feared he would be killed.
Photographs were handed in showing some of the dogs with family and children.
In his ruling, Judge Halpin described one image of an infant surrounded by two enormous XL Bully dogs as upsetting “given the potential ferocity of these animals”.
He found that the dogs were dangerous and not under proper control.
