At Sligo District Court, Killian McLoughlin, Slievemor View, Ballytivnan, Sligo was charged with stabbing a Staffordshire terrier dog multiple times at 3A Upper John Street on August 24 2021.

Judge Sandra Murphy, who had previously heard details of the case at a court sitting last November, sentenced Mr McLoughlin to five months in prison, with one month suspended.

The court was told by the defendant’s mother that she witnessed her son stabbing the dog. a Staffordshire terrier, and in her view, he was not ‘in the right state of mind’.

Evidence was heard from Darren Carr, a veterinary surgeon from the Well Pet Veterinary Practice.

He treated the female dog, which he observed was bleeding and there was a lot of wounds on its body.

It was recorded that the dog had eight wounds, four on each side measuring 20 to 30mm each. A number of wounds were bleeding more heavily than others.

The dog has lost a lot of blood and was in shock. A course of veterinary treatment over a number of days was required before the dog could be released to the local dog warden.

The dog was fostered to allow her to continue her recovery.

In court, Judge Murphy said that the defendant’s probation report indicated that he no insight or remorse for his actions and that he was at a risk of reoffending.

She sentenced Mr McLoughlin to five months in prison, with one month suspended for two years based on a good behaviour condition.

The judge rejected a plea from the defendant’s solicitor that if his client made an animal charity donation the sentence would be suspended in full.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of appeal.

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If you have a tip for an animal welfare issue, an animal news article, a press release, or just want to just reach out to us, we’d love to hear from you. John Tierney, Animal News Ireland/Editor