Latest news with #WicklowCircuitCriminalCourt
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Two men jailed for incident that led to Garda breaking his hand
Garda Mark Pender said both men were quite loud and aggressive, particularly Kevin Scanlan (29) who was kicking a door and telling him to 'f**k off.' Two Wicklow men have been sentenced to three months in prison each for obstructing a Garda called to a disturbance outside a house in Dunlavin, Co Wicklow three years ago. Kevin Scanlan (29) of Stoneacre, Crehelp, Dunlavin and Ross Coleborn (29) of Castledermot Road, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow both pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a peace officer in the execution of his duty at Fairgreen Manor, Dunlavin, on April 26, 2022, contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard Garda Mark Pender broke his hand during the incident. Gda Pender told the court that he was called to a house in Dunlavin where he discovered both accused parties in an intoxicated state trying to gain entry to a property. The court heard that Mr Scanlon was in a relationship with Mr Coleborn's sister, Claire, who lived in the house and who wanted both men to go away. Bray Courthouse, where Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court sits News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 Gda Pender said both men were quite loud and aggressive, particularly Mr Scanlan who was kicking a door and telling him to 'f**k off.' The garda who attended the scene on his own, described how a small scuffle broke out between the three of them when he tried to arrest Mr Scanlan. Gda Pender said he could not execute the arrest as he was being held by both men. The court heard Mr Scanlan had 51 previous convictions including six for public order offences, while Mr Coleborn had 26 previous convictions, the majority of which were for road traffic offences but one for assault. Gda Pender told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that Mr Scanlan was currently serving a prison sentence imposed by a court in Naas in relation to a conviction for criminal damage. He also confirmed that Mr Scanlan had been on bail at the time of the offence in Dunlavin. In a victim impact statement, Gda Pender said he did not blame the accused men that he had broken his hand during the incident but that he was disappointed he had been put in such a situation. Gda Pender said he knew both men but had never experienced such impudence and hostility from them before. He urged both men not to 'throw their lives away' after informing the court that they had issues with alcohol, cocaine and Valium. 'Something is going to give unless that's stopped,' said Gda Pender. Cross-examined by counsel for Mr Coleborn, Éamonn O'Moore BL, the witness acknowledged that the accused had written him a letter of apology. Mr O'Moore said Mr Coleborn was a father of one and mechanic who had significant issues with abuse of alcohol and drugs. Under cross-examination by barrister for Mr Scanlan, Damian Sheridan BL, Gda Pender said neither accused had come to his attention since the incident and both men looked 'much healthier.' Mr Sheridan said Mr Scanlan had a difficult family background but had displayed remorse and shame for the impact of his offending and drug-taking. He said the father of two was a trained chef who had a job offer for when he was released from prison. 'He is counting the days to get back to his family,' said Mr Sheridan. Counsel said the accused had been free from drugs for a period of three years and now realised 'the value of what he has in life.' Judge Patrick Quinn said striking a police officer during a scuffle was treated as a serious offence by the court. 'Interfering with a garda in uniform is a serious matter,' he remarked. The judge also observed that a probation report had assessed Mr Coleborn at being at a high risk of reoffending within the next 12 months and that he did not accept responsibility for his actions. Sentencing both men to three months in prison, Judge Quinn directed that Mr Scanlan's sentence should be served consecutively to his existing term of imprisonment.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
'It made my eyes burn.' Dentist avoids jail over "appalling" animal cruelty case
A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four and a half years and a lifetime ban on owning animals after what a judge described as 'one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect' he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson, 68, who comes originally from Liverpool with an address in England, pleaded guilty to ten offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow on November 19, 2016. The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Lawyers for Mr Saunderson – who is also known as Sanderson – claimed her property was used 'as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals'. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard an animal welfare inspector and Gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables, where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously 'stressed'. One Mastiff who had a withered leg had to be euthanised a week later. Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from Gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. 'It was a stressful and chaotic environment,' said Mr Dowling, who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. 'I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn,' he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused tried to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day but he said the evidence indicated otherwise as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one Mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals, although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs to whom she was particularly attached. The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor without it being reported to the authorities. 'Somebody must have known,' he observed. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a 'quite vague' report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware about Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially-strained circumstances for a number of years on a 'career break' while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was 'easily exploited'. He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals who could not cope with the number she had accumulated but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four and a half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in 'absolute squalor'. The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she remarked: 'Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry.'
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Dentist avoids jail after admitting to ‘most appalling' case of animal neglect
A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property of Karen Saunderson (68) when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four and a half years and a lifetime ban on owning animals after what a judge described as 'one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect' he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson (68) who comes originally from Liverpool with an address in England, pleaded guilty to ten offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow on November 19, 2016. The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Lawyers for Mr Saunderson – who is also known as Sanderson – claimed her property was used 'as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals.' A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard an animal welfare inspector and gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. Pic Collins Courts News in 90 Seconds - May 29th A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously 'stressed.' One Mastiff who had a withered leg had to be euthanised a week later. Pic: Collins Courts Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. 'It was a stressful and chaotic environment,' said Mr Dowling who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. 'I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn,' he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused tried to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day but he said the evidence indicated otherwise as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one Mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs to whom she was particularly attached. Pic Collins Courts The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor without it being reported to the authorities. 'Somebody must have known,' he observed. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a 'quite vague' report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware about Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially strained circumstances for a number of years on a 'career break' while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was 'easily exploited.' He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals who could not cope with the number she had accumulated but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four and a half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in 'absolute squalor.' The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she remarked: 'Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry.'
RTÉ News
29-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Lifetime ban for woman after 'appalling' animal neglect
A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four-and-a-half years, and a lifetime ban on owning animals, after what a judge described as "one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect" he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson, 68, who originally comes from Liverpool and has an address in England, pleaded guilty to ten offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow on 19 November 2016. The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Lawyers for Ms Saunderson - who is also known as Sanderson - claimed her property was used "as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals". A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard an animal welfare inspector and gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig, which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable, had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously "stressed". One mastiff, who had a withered leg, had to be euthanised a week later. Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. "It was a stressful and chaotic environment," said Mr Dowling who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. "I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn," he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused tried to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day, but he said the evidence indicated otherwise as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially, but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals, although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs to whom she was particularly attached. The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor without it being reported to the authorities. "Somebody must have known," he said. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a "quite vague" report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware about Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially strained circumstances for a number of years on a "career break" while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was "easily exploited." He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals, who could not cope with the number she had accumulated but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four-and-a-half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in "absolute squalor." The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she said: "Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry."
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Irish Independent
KWETB official pleads guilty to possessing child abuse material
Bernard Morley (49) of Coolnakilly, Glenealy, Co Wicklow was listed to go on trial before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court this week in relation to a charge for the possession of child pornography. However, the accused's counsel, Ronan Kennedy SC, said his client could be arraigned during a sitting of the court on Tuesday when Mr Morley's name was called out. Mr Morley, who works in the further education division of Kildare and Wicklow ETB, pleaded guilty to a single charge of possession of child abuse material contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. The court heard the offence related to the possession of one video and three images on dates between January 22, 2023 and April 23, 2023. Mr Kennedy said he wished to obtain a number of reports for his client in advance of a sentencing date. Judge Patrick Quinn remanded the accused on continuing bail to October 8 when a date for a sentencing hearing will be fixed.
