Brothers guilty of dog wardens attack

Two dog wardens and their van underwent what could be described as a ferocious attack when they went to investigate a complaint of a dangerous dog in Tralee.

The incident, which involved an assault on one of the wardens with a plank and damage to a county council dog van with a golf club, was perpetrated by two brothers Patrick and Michael O’Brien, who have 69 previous convictions between them for a variety of offences.

At one point the dog wardens locked themselves into their van to protect themselves until gardaí arrived.

One of the brothers managed to remove the dog cage and the dog pole — an implement for catching dogs and strays — prosecutor Tom Rice told Judge Carroll Moran at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

Michael O’Brien, aged 36, of 42 Balloonagh Estate, Tralee, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to dog warden James Cronin and to having a weapon, namely a timber plank with nails.

His brother Patrick O’Brien, aged 24, of the same address, pleaded guilty to damaging the dog van and to carrying a golf club for use as a weapon.

Garda Marian McCarthy said the wardens, James Cronin and Brendan Deane, responded to a complaint that a dangerous dog had attacked another dog in Balloonagh. Arriving at No 42, Michael O’Brien emerged aggressively and told the wardens to “fuck off” and he attempted to pull Mr Cronin from the van.

Michael O’Brien took out the dog-catching equipment and punched Mr Deane in the ribs.

The wardens locked themselves in the van, but when they got out again, Micheal O’Brien picked up a plank of wood which had nails attached and hit Mr Cronin, knocking him to the ground.

“Patrick O’Brien came across the green area with a golf club and attacked the van, shattering the driver’s window and rear window.

“It was a very frightening experience for Mr Cronin who was now prostrate on the ground and fearful of further violent attack,” the garda agreed with Mr Rice.

The two wardens were “shaken” and Mr Cronin was brought by ambulance to Kerry General where he was diagnosed as having soft tissue injury, the garda said.

Michael O’Brien, who has 38 previous convictions, had drink and drugs taken, and remembered little of the incident, but admitted to it, the court was told.

Patrick O’Brien arrived late on the scene, and his part was an attack on the van, his barrister Brian McInerney said.

Defence barrister John O’Sullivan put it to the garda that in fact the dangerous dog complained of by other residents may not have belonged to the O’Briens in the first place.

“You could say the O’Briens did not have a dog in the fight,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

The brothers have just one sister who is due to wed on Jun 21 and counsel pleaded for an adjournment of sentencing until after this

Sentencing was adjourned until Jun 28.