Judge tells court that 'rooks can drive people mad'
A judge has said that “rooks can drive people mad” after being told that a government department is taking a prosecution over the felling of a tree that contained “many nests, many eggs and many chicks”.
At Gort District Court, three south Galway men are being prosecuted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Wildlife Act in connection with the alleged injuring and disturbing of rook birds.
Judge Alec Gabbett whether the case involved someone shooting at rooks, to which barrister for the department Michael Clancy (instructed by state solicitor for Galway, Rachel Joyce) replied "no".
The barrister told the court that the allegation is that a tree was felled “that contained many nests, many eggs and many chicks” adding that the tree contained a rookery.
Judge Gabbett commented: “There might well be an excuse for these things - rooks can drive people mad or the tree may have been needed to be taken down."
The three accused, Joseph Kelly of Circular Road, Gort, Patrick Hogan of Cahermore, Kinvara, and Donagh Hogan of Cahermore, Kinvara are all facing summons concerning the alleged injuring of birds and destroying eggs.
Patrick Hogan and Donagh Hogan are charged with injuring one adult rook and up to four rook chicks between April 7 and April 13, 2024 at Cahermore, Kinvara, Co. Galway.
Patrick Hogan and Donagh Hogan are also facing a charge of wilfully destroying, or injuring up to 10 eggs or up to 17 nests at the same location between April 7 and April 13, 2024.
Patrick Hogan and Donagh Hogan are also charged with using a mechanically proposed vehicle in the commission of an offence that caused the injury of protected wild birds on dates between April 7 and April 13, 2024 at Cahermore, Kinvara, Co. Galway.
Joseph Kelly is accused of wilfully destroying, injuring or mutilating one egg or up to eight eggs of protected wild birds on a site adjacent to Ennis Rd, Cloonnahaha, Gort, on dates between May 15 and May 23, 2024.
Kelly is also accused of disturbing one nest of a protected bird containing up to eight eggs or protected wild birds containing unflown young on the same dates at the same location.
He is further charged with injuring two young rook chicks at the same location on the same dates range and with using a mechanically proposed vehicle in the commission of an offence causing the injury of protected wild birds.
All summons are under the Wildlife Act 1976.
All three men are contesting the allegations and Judge Gabbett has adjourned the cases to October for hearing.
