A cat cruelty case heard at Monaghan District Court (13th April) saw a married couple receiving a three month sentence for what Judge Raymond Finnegan described as what happened as “cruel” and “horrendous” behaviour towards an innocent animal.

Patrick Connolly (67) and Bernie Connolly (64), Alderwood, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan were each sentenced to three months in prison after admitting to animal cruelty and stealing their neighbour’s cat.

On the 13th May 2025, their neighbour reported the theft of her cat to the Gardaí. It was seen in her garden earlier, but was not there later on in the day.

Examination of the footage from her property CCTV system showed Mr Connolly lifting the cat from his patio and bringing it into his kitchen.

CCTV footage showed them trapping the cat in their kitchen, placing it into a white bag, tying it with string, and leaving their home with it. They later abandoned the bagged cat at Creevy Lake, a few miles outside Carrickmacross.