78-year-old convicted of animal cruelty in Cork
A 78-year-old man has been convicted of animal cruelty at a court in Co. Cork.
At Fermoy District Court, Pat Fouhy of Ballydaw, Castlelyons, Co. Cork was convicted of animal cruelty and of obstructing authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Judge Colm Roberts fined Fouhy a total of €3,000 and disqualified him from keeping dogs for five years.
At a previous contested hearing on September 20, 2024, during which the man represented himself, the court heard evidence from Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) inspector Caroline Faherty as well as a private veterinary practitioner.
Inspector Faherty told the court that she visited the accused’s property on April 13, 2023 in response to a report of concern regarding horses on the surrounding lands.
While there, she heard a dog crying out in pain and followed the noise. In Fouhy's front garden, she found a young black Labrador-type dog which was limping badly on its front right leg.
She said that it was obvious that the dog was in a very distressed state, and she could see that the leg appeared to be injured and was very swollen.
The inspector made the decision to seize the dog, later named Dubh, and took it for pain relief and veterinary assessment.
X-rays confirmed that the dog’s humerus bone was fractured into several fragments and the injury had been present for at least several days. The only course of treatment was to amputate Dubh’s leg.
On May 11, 2023, inspector Faherty returned to Fouhy’s premises accompanied by gardaí. She said Fouhy confirmed he was the owner of the injured dog and that, when she told him the extent of the dog’s injuries, he replied ‘"sure put him to sleep".
Fouhy subsequently surrendered the dog to the ISPCA.
The court heard that, during a later visit to the property by inspector Faherty and a garda in October 2023, Fouhy was obstructive and abusive.
Speaking in his own defence, Fouhy argued that the ISPCA inspector should not have entered his property and claimed to be an innocent man. Judge Roberts did not agree and convicted him for animal cruelty.
On sentencing last Friday, the judge said that he had given Fouhy the benefit of reflection and change by requesting a probation and welfare report after the initial hearing, but that he had failed to “find any remorse”.
Inspector Faherty commented: “If an animal is injured, however the cause, it is the responsibility of its owner to ensure it gets the necessary vet treatment and is not allowed to suffer.
"It is important that Mr. Fouhy’s obstructive behaviour was included in this prosecution. This is a difficult job in many ways and people need to be aware that, if you obstruct an authorised officer from doing their job, there can be consequences."
The ISPCA urges the public to continue reporting any suspicions of animal cruelty or neglect to its National Animal Cruelty Helpline by calling 0818 515 515, email [email protected] or report online at its website.
