Tipperary men avoid jail for illegal deer kill

Photo © Tipp FM

Three Carrick-on-Suir men have received suspended prison sentences after admitting their role in the illegal hunting and killing of deer using specially-bred dogs.

The crimes were uncovered during the Garda’s Operation Bambi investigation into deer poaching.

Keith O’Dwyer, aged 27, of 16 Glenview, Dean Murphy aged 25, of Ballyrichard Court and Jamie Regan, aged 28, of 25 Comeragh View all pleaded guilty at Clonmel Circuit Court to illegally hunting and killing wild Irish deer using dogs, and causing them unnecessary suffering, between September 2014 and January 2015.

An online investigation by Gardai showed a number of photographs and a video which showed either deer being hunted with dogs, or deer lying dead in front of people who were posing.

A follow up search of the homes of the men was conducted and they were arrested.

Judge Thomas Teehan said the crimes involved “inherent cruelty to animals”

Both O’Dwyer and Murphy pleaded guilty to two counts of the offence while Regan admitted one count – they each received two-year suspended sentences.

A charge against Jamie Regan of possession, for the purposes of sale or supply, of cocaine worth €5,675 was adjourned for a year to allow him collect €2,000 for a charity dealing with victims of drug crime.

Each of the men also has to pay €1,000 to animal welfare organisations within the next nine months.