From criminal to canine trainer: Meet the lifers who trained Ireland's first Parkinson's support dog

Two inmates who trained Ireland’s first Parkinson’s support dog tell Alison O’Reilly how they have learned many new skills and been on a life-changing journey they will never forget

Dogs for the Disabled start training pups when they are in the litter. Picture: Jeff Harvey

Standing in the middle of the canteen at Shelton Abbey prison, tears welled up in John’s eyes as he saw the fruits of his unlikely journey from criminal to dog trainer finally come to pass.

Next to him was his fellow inmate Tom, who had also helped him train Leon — a magnificent two-year-old black Labrador — to become Ireland’s first Parkinson's support dog.