Case against neighbours dismissed after stabbing of dog

A dog was stabbed 12 times by a man foraging for mushrooms near Monkstown Golf Club and, yesterday, two men gave conflicting accounts of the incident.

After hours of evidence at Cork District Court, Judge Olann Kelleher said: “I don’t know who is telling the truth.” He dismissed the assault charges against both Eamonn Hourihane, aged 53, of Lee View Place, Monkstown, Co Cork, and neighbour, James Fleming, aged 55, of Carrigmahon, Glenbrook, Co Cork. Each denied assaulting the other at around 11.30am on November 13, 2013.

Both parties agreed that Mr Hourihane stabbed a 55kg bull mastiff crossbreed called Daisy in the neck, but the circumstances giving rise to this were contested.