Ireland’s Eye - a round of top Irish news stories

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Bestiality Death on Trial

In the first case of its kind in the country, a Limerickman appeared before court charged with buggery with a German shepherd in a house in Patrickswell, Co. Limerick four years ago.

Sean McDonnell, 58, who has moved out of Limerick to an undisclosed location due to publicity surrounding the case, appeared visibly upset in Limerick Circuit Court as details of the case emerged.

Judge Carroll Moran heard that a number of text messages had been sent between the defendant and a woman identified only in court as XY, who died after having sexual activity with the dog belonging to McDonnell on October 7, 2008, in Laurel Park, Patrickswell.

The defendant, a father of three, called the emergency services, and when the ambulance and paramedics arrived they found the 43-year-old woman in an unusual state of dress, “with an unusual opening in the area of her pants.”

The court heard he also contacted his doctor twice as he realized she was in distress, and then “collapsed as a result of contact with the dog.”

She was removed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital and was pronounced dead.  Staff at the hospital alerted Gardai (police) to the incident.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by the state pathologist Dr. Marie Cassidy, and the cause of death remains undetermined.

Swabs were taken from the deceased and no human semen was found. Further analysis by the International Society for Animal Genetics found that the samples taken from the deceased and McDonnell’s dog, MacKenzie, were a match.

McDonnell went voluntarily to Roxboro Road Garda station on the night in question, and on April 8, 2009, his home was searched.

Three computers were seized by Gardai -- two belonging to XY and one belonging to McDonnell -- which showed extensive activity in pornographic and bestiality sites.

It is the defense’s case that there was “absolutely no element of any form of coercion” in this case, and that the woman sought out this activity.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The case has been adjourned to December 14.
 -Limerick Leader

Hate Crime Investigated

Police have confirmed that they are treating attacks on a Filipino family from the Ransevyn area in Whitehead as a hate crime.

The family, who say they are afraid to leave their home, talked of their anguish after being targeted by a group of teen vandals for almost one month.

Vandalism to the family's property first occurred around three weeks ago when a group of four boys wearing hooded jumpers broke into the family car.

At first, the family believed the break-in to be just a random crime, but since then more sinister incidents have taken place.

Aside from vandalizing property, the group of teenagers last week began to terrorize and bully the family of five.

One member of the family who did not wish to be named said she first noticed the attacks when the family car was broken into.

"I thought initially that it was just a random crime because we have lived in the house for almost six years and haven't had any problems," she said.

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Nster.com