A man charged with causing “unnecessary suffering” to a cockbird and “endangering its health” on 14 October 2015 at the Luas stop in Cookstown was up in front of Judge Victor Blake in Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday 28 September.

When defence counsel for the man told Judge Blake that the victim had been “assisted” and “was enjoying a full recovery”, the judge, a little confused, responded: “Who? The chicken?”

A garda who was involved in the case then told the court that the victim, the cockbird, had been conveyed to the Dublin Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had recovered its health and has since been restored to his farm.

Remanding the man in custody on this and a separate charge, Judge Blake said he hoped the bird may “roam free-range” on the farm for a long time to come.

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