*The matter was before Killaloe District Court on Monday.
A 78-year old Killaloe man who has pleaded guilty to owning a dog who ‘worried’ livestock in connection with a dog attack on sheep that left eight sheep dead has escaped a conviction.
At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Alec Gabbett said that he would impose the Probation Act on Michael Lynch of Ballykildea, Killaloe after Mr Lynch’s solicitor, John Casey said that his client would pay €4,000 compensation to the farmer who owned the sheep.
In the case, Mr Lynch pleaded guilty to owning a dog that worried sheep at Garraunboy, Killaloe on January 21st last year in breach of the Control of Dogs Act.
Judge Gabbett said that attacks on sheep by dogs “is a huge concern of sheep owners in this county”.
Judge Gabbett said that “what is on offer by Mr Lynch is not unreasonable”.
He said, “There are very significant moves to resolve this.”
Judge Gabbett said that the €4,000 included compensation for the eight lost sheep and he said that what was on offer was market value.
Judge Gabbett had asked what would be paid over would include vet bills.
Solicitor for Mr Lynch, John Casey told the court previously that “the dog is gone” stating that the dog shot was dead by the owner of the sheep during the incident.
Mr Casey said that Mr Lynch has had no previous convictions.
Mr Casey told the court previously that Mr Lynch has been very co-operative and has offered to pay whatever outstanding costs there are.
Mr Casey said that the dog was a bitch in heat and the dog was locked up “and it was either Mr Lynch’s grandson or grand-nephew that allowed the dog out and the dog travelled a mile to the land where the damage was done”.
Sgt Frank O’Grady said that eight sheep were killed in the incident.
Mr Casey said that Mr Lynch paid for the sheep carcasses to be transported away and his son called to the vet twice to pay the vet fees.
Mr Casey said that when he was interviewed by Gardaí, Mr Lynch wanted to know how much it cost and he was advised by Gardaí not to go near the landowner.
Mr Casey said that it is no longer a control issue because the dog was shot.
Mr Casey said that Mr Lynch “is two years shy of 80 and has lived his life on this planet conviction free”.
Mr Casey added that it has been upsetting particularly involving neighbours and he has admitted responsibility.
The solicitor said that there had never been an issue with the dog before.
He said, “She was in heat and my client feels that she may have run off with another dog and she had never shown violent tendencies”.
