Man charged with torturing German shepherd puppy

An animal torture charge was brought against a man yesterday arising out of the killing of a German shepherd pup at a house in Cork.

Garda Frank Bergin charged Shane Power, aged 25, with a count which stated that, “On Jan 16, 2013, at 30 Willowbank View, Fairhill, Cork, you did cruelly torture an animal, to wit, a German shepherd pup”, contrary to the Protection of Animals Act.

Insp Mary King told Judge Con O’Leary that the DPP had directed that the case could be dealt with at Cork District Court only on a plea of guilty and that otherwise it would have to be dealt with by way of trial by judge and jury.

Emmet Boyle, defence solicitor, said that subject to the judge accepting jurisdiction to deal with the matter, the defendant was pleading guilty to the charge.

The judge could not deal with such an unusual case yesterday because of the amount of other cases listed. It was adjourned until today. Power was remanded in custody.

Power, of no fixed addresses, with previous addresses at Barrack St, Cappoquin, Co Waterford, and Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, had a charge of burglary at the house at Willow Bank View, Fairhill, Cork, withdrawn.

On previous court appearances in this case Power had insisted that he lived in the house with the owner’s permission. The householder had recently made a new statement to the effect that Power had permission to be there.

However, the torture charge was then brought against Power.