Longest deer tail judge ever saw

A case involving the shooting of a native red Killarney stag has been unresolved for three-and-a-half years since the offence and almost two years since it first came before the courts — prompting a judge to note it had “the longest tail” ever seen.

The animal, which had been highly protected and was part of “a unique” and ancient species, was shot outside Killarney in late 2011.

In September 2013, Richard Cullinane, aged 37, of Lisnacon, Kanturk, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to hunting and killing a red stag.

The charges were brought by the arts, heritage, and Gaeltacht minister under the Wildlife Acts. The maximum fine for the offence is €635 and/or three months in prison.

Mr Cullinane had agreed to pay what the court heard described as “atonement to society” for the single offence including €750 to the Department of Heritage for use in Killarney National Park and €2,500 to a court poor box. This was done promptly.

The court was told the Killarney red deer herd was unique and could not be replaced by red deer from elsewhere. Mr Cullinane had brought the head and neck of a red deer stag to a taxidermist to be stuffed and mounted as a hunting trophy.

DNA tests showed it matched the hindquarters of a stag found by a wildlife officer in a field at Loo Bridge Glenflesk on November 7, 2011, the previous sitting had been told.

Padraig O’Connell, for Mr Cullinane, said his client had co-operated fully and immediately offered to replace the deer — but that the deer could not be replaced.

Mr O’Connell said the matter was not finalised because the State were seeking to withdraw Mr Cullinane’s hunting licence.

His client was seeking to contest the application but despite his “repeated” requests for the legal documents on which the application was being based, these still had not been furnished.

“This is a tail issue. It is an application by the State,” Mr O’Connell said.

“It’s the longest tail I ever saw,” Judge James O’Connor said, agreeing to put the matter back to July.

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