Courts

Couple behind Co Cork puppy farm have animal neglect sentences reduced on appeal

Solicitor says William (57) and Eleanor Sheehy (50) from Timoleague ‘are dog lovers’ despite what people think

William (57) and Eleanor Sheehy (50), of Grange More, Timoleague, appeared before Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Court in Bandon on Tuesday. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts
William (57) and Eleanor Sheehy (50), of Grange More, Timoleague, appeared before Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Court in Bandon on Tuesday. Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts
David Forsythe
Tue Dec 10 2024 - 20:05

A couple who operated a puppy farm from an old piggery on their Co Cork property have had the severity of their sentences for animal neglect reduced on appeal.

William (57) and Eleanor Sheehy (50), of Grange More, Timoleague, appeared before Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Court in Bandon on Tuesday.

Tim O’Connor, for the Department of Agriculture, said the Sheehys pleaded guilty in the District Court to six charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in relation to the poor conditions they kept the dogs in.

In November, Judge Monica Leech sentenced the couple to terms of five months, suspended for two years. They were both fined €1,000 for each of the six convictions and ordered to pay costs of €12,822.48 incurred by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) in rehoming the first 14 dogs.

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The couple were also ordered to pay the costs of rehoming the remaining dogs and disqualified from owning or breeding dogs for life.

[ Owners of Cork puppy farm fined, banned for life from owning dogs over animal cruelty ]

ISPCA inspector Caroline Faherty told the court she went to the Sheehys’ farm on March 21st, 2023, to inspect the kennels following a complaint from a member of the public.

She said there were 50 adult dogs and 22 puppies of breeds including cocker spaniels, Bernese mountain dogs, Newfoundlands, collies and Jack Russells. She said the kennels were “filthy” and there was an “overpowering smell of ammonia”.

Ms Faherty said some dogs had matted fur and runny eyes. She said some had discharges coming from their ears and showed behavioural issues. She issued the couple a notice and said she would return in two days for a further inspection.

She returned with the chief veterinary inspector, the county dog warden and the local dog warden. It was decided to remove the 14 dogs deemed to be in the worst condition, as that was all that could be accommodated at the time. The couple agreed to surrender the animals. When a further inspection was carried out in August of last year, Ms Faherty said the kennels were cleaner but still “inadequate”.

[ Dogs found emaciated and ‘matted’ in dirt at Cork puppy farm, court hears ]

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said the couple had been breeding dogs from 2016 to last year “without any problems”. However, he said the couple went through a “difficult period” and let “standards slip” when Mrs Sheehy’s mother died in late 2022 and two of their four children emigrated.

He said the media attention surrounding the case has been difficult for his clients, who have been the subject of abuse online, by phone, in writing and in person. He said there was no question of them seeking a breeding licence again, but they would like to be keep their two working collie dogs.

“Despite what people think, they are dog lovers,” he added.

Mr Murphy said the suspended sentences imposed could present a problem for Mrs Sheehy’s employment as a nurse and that the financial penalties imposed were “almost catastrophic”.

Judge Boyle said the operation “was obviously run for profit” and that “it was probably even more profitable” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She took into account the fact the Sheehys pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and there was an element of “social shaming” arising. She removed the suspended prison sentences.

The judge upheld the disqualification from breeding dogs for life, but permitted them to keep the two collies and one “house dog”.

She directed that they pay the cost of treating and rehoming the first 14 dogs removed, allowing them eight months to pay, and she ordered that they pay the €14,222 cost to date of treating and rehoming the remaining dogs, allowing them 20 months.

She ordered that they pay an additional €3,000 to cover the costs of rehoming the remaining dogs, but reduced the level of fines from €1,000 on each of the 12 counts down to €250.