*The case came before Ennis District Court.
A CIVIL restraining order has been imposed on a man for tormenting a neighbour’s barking dog.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett remarked “I feel sorry for the dog” after viewing video footage of the man shouting expletives and throwing a rock at the barking dog as part of a neighbours’ row.
Judge Gabbett said, “It is a difficult dispute between neighbours. The dog is being tormented which does concern me”.
Judge Gabbett said that video footage of the man shouting at the dog on different dates showed that the man had engaged in taunting the dog locked behind a metal gate on a country road.
After granting the restraining order to the female dog owner against the Co Clare resident, Judge Gabbett warned the man, “You will be in trouble if you shout, roar and throw stones at the dog”.
In reply the man asked, “so I am going to be arrested for that am I?”
The man said, “If the dog comes flying out at me I will have something to say”.
Judge Gabbett granted the restraining order to the owner of the dog who told the court that for the past five years, there have been constant insults and shouting at the dog by the man.
The woman was availing of new legislation introduced last September which is aimed at protecting victims of harassment.
The woman said that the man crossed the line on March 1st “when he picked up a rock and threw it at my dog and I need it all to stop”.
She said that she was bringing the restraining order application as “it is my responsibility to protect the dog”.
The woman said the man’s behaviour towards her dog “will turn it into the kind of dog I will have to watch”.
However, in response, the man said that “that dog is vicious”.
Before showing the video footage of the man throwing a rock at the dog, she said to Judge Gabbett, “Can I apologise for my cinematography in advance?”
In reply, the man remarked, “Cleverclogs”.
After the court viewed the video footage, the man said, “I am finished with the f**kin lot of ye – it is one great farce”.
He said, “I am convinced she kicks the dog to go out and attack me when that front door is open”.
Judge Gabbett said that the video footage showed erratic behaviour by the man and a lot of expletives and that he threw something at the dog.
The man said, “I was peed off – I don’t know when it is going to come out”.
The man said, “I did throw a handful of gravel”.
He said, “I was annoyed at the dog because the dog has been out and bit me”.
He said, “The dog is taunting me so I taunt it back”.
He said, “I am hounded enough”.
The man said that he had to pass by the gate on a daily basis where the dog barks from.
Judge Gabbett said that this was a “vicious circle” telling the man “you get cross very quickly”.
