Ireland Charge dismissed against Moyne horse owner Richard Egan at Thurles District Court
On August 13, 2021, at around 10am, gardaí responded to a call that four horses were loose on a road in Rossestown, Tipperary. Richard Egan, 52, of Moyneard Cross, Moyneard, Moyne, Thurles, was charged with being the person in charge and allowing his horse to pose a threat to the public. Gardaí could not identify the owner, and a rescue took the horses to Cork, where Egan later claimed them after paying €4,000. Representing himself at Thurles District Court, Egan had his pre-trial application to strike out the case refused, and the judge found he was in charge of the horses. In the court hearing reported on 28 December 2023, Judge Elizabeth MacGrath dismissed the charge, though she did not accept Egan's accusations against the rescue and gardaí.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted27 Dec
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Four horses were reported loose on a road in Rossestown.
- When
- Gardaí responded to the call on August 13, 2021, at around 10am.
- Where
- Egan is from Moyneard Cross, Moyneard, Moyne, Thurles, County Tipperary.
- Investigation
- Gardaí could not identify the owner of the horses and contacted a rescue, which took them to Cork.
- Other details
- Egan reported the horses missing and later claimed them from the rescue after paying €4,000.
- Egan said the rescue took his horses out of a field while he was abroad, and that gardaí had invented a witness; the judge did not accept these accusations.
- Charges
- Richard Egan, 52, was charged with being the person in charge and allowing his horse to pose a threat to the public.
- In court
- Egan represented himself at Thurles District Court.
- Before the trial, Egan applied to have the case struck out, arguing the prosecution was missing an essential witness; the judge ruled the case could go ahead.
- The judge was satisfied that Egan was in charge of the horses.
- Sentence
- Judge Elizabeth MacGrath dismissed the charge against Egan, as reported on 28 December 2023.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whereEgan is from Moyneard Cross, Moyneard, Moyne, Thurles. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenGardaí responded to a call about loose horses on August 13, 2021, at around 10am. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeGardaí responded to a call that four horses were loose on a road in Rossestown. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationGardaí could not identify the owner and contacted a rescue, which took the horses to Cork. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeRichard Egan was charged with being the person in charge and allowing his horse to pose a threat to the public. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtEgan represented himself at Thurles District Court. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtEgan applied before the trial for the case to be struck out, arguing the prosecution was missing an essential witness. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe judge ruled that the case could go ahead. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe judge was satisfied that Egan was in charge of the horses. (tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge dismissed the case against Egan. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherEgan reported the horses missing and later claimed them from the rescue. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherEgan paid €4,000 to retrieve his horses. (tipperarylive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Dec2023Tipperary court hears that evidence in case was essentially finding ‘sh*t on the road’
Reports the court hearing and dismissal of the charge against Richard Egan, including his pre-trial application, his claims about the missing horses and the judge's ruling.
accused, Richard Egan, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Egan