A judge has postponed sentencing on an Irishman found guilty of bestiality in which a woman died.

Sean McDonnell from Limerick had met a woman on a bestiality chat line. She later had sex with a dog in his home but she died soon after reports the Irish Times.

It was originally believed she had an allergic reaction to the animal sex but that has not been proven.

The woman was a 48-year-old separated mother from Limerick.

Police Officer Pádraig O’Dwyer stated that while the woman and the dog engaged in an act of bestiality, the exact cause of death could not be determined.

O’Dwyer stated the woman had agreed to have sex with the dog after the couple had met on the Internet.

McDonnell’s computer had 3,500 comments on bestiality forums that he had contributed to.

His computer has  “extensive activity in pornography and bestiality websites,” the court heard.

The dog was destroyed last week.

Lawyer Isobella Kennedy, defending, said: “My client would not have been prosecuted save for the lady in question passing away. The lady fully consented. There was no form of coercion or duress.”

Judge Carroll Moran described it as “a very unusual case” and said sentencing would take place on December 14th.