A 78-year-old east Clare man has pleaded guilty to owning a dog that worried livestock in connection with a dog attack on sheep that left eight sheep dead.

At Killaloe District Court, sitting in Ennis, Michael Lynch of Ballykildea, Killaloe, pleaded guilty to owning a dog that worried sheep at Garraunboy, Killaloe, on 21 January this year in breach of the Control of Dogs Act.

Solicitor for Mr Lynch John Casey told the court that “the dog is gone”, stating that the dog was shot dead by the owner of the sheep during the incident.

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Mr Casey said that Mr Lynch has no previous convictions.

He said that Mr Lynch has been very co-operative and has offered to pay whatever outstanding costs there are.

The dog was a bitch in heat and the dog was locked up “and it was either Mr Lynch's grandson or grandnephew that allowed the dog out and the dog travelled a mile to the land where the damage was done,” added Mr Casey.

Sgt Frank O'Grady said that eight sheep were killed in the incident.

Mr Casey said that Mr Lynch paid for the sheep carcasses to be transported away and his son called to the vet twice to pay the vet fees.

Good record

Mr Casey said that when he was interviewed by gardaí, Mr Lynch wanted to know how much it cost and he was advised by gardaí not to go near the landowner.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that such a case is concerning to people who have sheep "as dogs and sheep don’t get on terribly well together".

Mr Casey said that it is no longer a control issue because the dog was shot.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that such a case is concerning to people who have sheep 'as dogs and sheep don’t get on terribly well together'

Mr Casey said that it was an accidental loss of control of a dog and asked that no conviction be imposed because of his age and good record.

He said that Mr Lynch “is two years shy of 80 and has lived his life on this planet conviction-free”.

It has been upsetting, particularly involving neighbours, and he has admitted responsibility, said Mr Casey.

Judge Gabbett said that he was not anxious to convict a 78-year-old, but that this worrying sheep is a huge issue for farmers.

Accidental

He said that, in this instance, it was an accidental release and was not deliberately done.

Mr Casey said that there had never been an issue with the dog before.

He said: “She was in heat and my client feels that she may have run off with another dog and she had never shown violent tendencies.”

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to 3 February to allow Mr Lynch pay any vet bills that have arisen. He said that it is definitely the way to go to resolve issues between neighbours.

He said: “It is a very neighbourly thing to do - apologise, say sorry and pay the vet bills and the problem is solved. These people have to live together for a long time.”