A 36 year old man who harassed his former girlfriend and stole her border collie denied threatening to cut the dog’s head off when he appeared at Limerick District Court last week.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly adjourned the charges against Conor O’Sullivan of Clonkeen, Killarney until May 9 of next year after he pleaded guilty to trespassing in the back garden of his former girlfriend’s home near Montpellier in Limerick and stealing the dog on February 25 last.
Defending solicitor John Herbert said his client who had no previous convictions was upset and aggrieved that his four-year relationship with the injured party suddenly ended. He stole the dog in an effort to get the woman to talk to him again. “He sent her a text that he would return the dog the following day if she spoke to him.”
Inspector Seamus Ruane said that he had some direct knowledge of the matter and of the complainant and that he was aware that there were a number of calls, and text messages, “some nasty”, were sent by Conor O’Sullivan. It was also alleged that Mr O’Sullivan would cut off the dog’s head if his ex-girlfriend did not speak to him. This was denied by the defence.
Mr Herbert said that it was in fact the case that there was a dispute over ownership as there were “two dogs were at the house” and it was the Mr O’Sullivan’s claim that they came from his family, but Mr Herbert said that was “another matter altogether and not an issue here”. Again, it was denied that there was ever a threat to mutilate the dog but it was accepted that the actions were juvenile in nature.
Judge O’Kelly adjourned the case and remanded Conor O’Sullivan on continuing bail on condition that he remain out of the Montpellier and O’Brien’s Bridge areas.
