Man beat sick dog to death in park

A man who claimed he could not afford vet bills for his sick dog will avoid a jail term for killing the animal in a park full of children.

A witness saw Liam Dowling, aged 44, swing the Jack Russell overhead by its lead and smash it to the ground up to 30 times as he crossed a park by Clonliffe College.

Garda Shane Mengessidis said he was seen putting his foot on the dog’s head while it was on the ground and pulling the lead tight.