'This is a first': Man avoids jail for stealing hares from coursing club

The unusual theft of nine hares from a coursing club resulted yesterday in a young man avoiding a conviction for taking them.

Judge Olann Kelleher had put sentencing back to see how the man would get on.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the 19-year-old had no previous convictions and was doing very well in his life. He said that Arthur McCarthy was keen to avoid a first conviction for theft.