Ireland Dunboyne man sentenced over neglect of emaciated dog
Andrew Byrne, 43, of Woodview Heights, Dunboyne, Co Meath, owned a West Highland Terrier named Delboy, who was found by a member of the public in extremely poor condition and taken to a local veterinary clinic. Vets gave the dog a body condition score of 1/9, described him as emaciated, and said he would have died if not brought in. At a previous sitting on December 13, the court heard the case, and Byrne then pleaded guilty to two offences under sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. On March 15, 2025, he was sentenced at Navan District Court to community service, which sources give as either 50 hours or 50 days, instead of one month in prison, and the judge declined to make a disqualification order.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Andrew Byrne, 43, pleaded guilty to two offences under sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
- His West Highland Terrier, Delboy, was found by a member of the public in extremely poor condition.
- The dog was microchipped and registered to Mr Byrne.
- Vets gave the dog a body condition score of 1/9 and found him emaciated, with prominent ribs and bones showing.
- The dog had an extremely bad untreated yeast infection, with large areas of hairless skin over his body and tail, and a chronic untreated ear infection.
- The dog was struggling to walk and was falling over.
- A vet said the dog would have died if a member of the public had not brought him in.
- The dog had not been to the vet since May 2021 and had lost 20% of his body weight since then.
- Around Christmas 2023 the dog deteriorated and became incontinent.
- When
- The skin condition developed almost four years before the court hearing.
- Cause
- Mr Byrne feared the dog would be euthanised if brought to the vet.
- Investigation
- Inspector James McCormack responded when the ISPCA was alerted.
- In court
- The case was heard at a previous sitting of Navan District Court on December 13.
- Sentence
- Judge Erin McKiernan sentenced Mr Byrne at Navan District Court on March 15, 2025 to 50 hours of community service instead of one month in prison; one source says 50 days.
- The judge declined a request to make an Order of Disqualification.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAndrew Byrne pleaded guilty to two offences under sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWest Highland Terrier Delboy was found by a member of the public in extremely poor condition. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog was microchipped and registered to Mr Byrne. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatVets gave the dog a body condition score of only 1/9. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog was emaciated with prominent ribs and bones showing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog had an extremely bad untreated yeast infection with large areas of hairless skin all over his body and tail. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog had a chronic untreated ear infection. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog was struggling to walk and was falling over. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA vet said the dog would have died if not brought in by a member of the public. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog developed the skin condition almost four years before the court hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog had not been to the vet since May 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe dog had lost 20% of his body weight since May 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAround Christmas 2023 the dog deteriorated and became incontinent. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Byrne feared the dog would be euthanised if brought to the vet. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInspector James McCormack responded when the ISPCA was alerted. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was sentenced at Navan District Court on 15 March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Erin McKiernan imposed 50 hours of community service instead of one month of imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge declined a request to make an Order of Disqualification. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Mar2025Man sentenced to community service after his dog was found 'emaciated'
Reports the sentencing of Andrew Byrne to 50 hours of community service for two animal welfare offences relating to his emaciated West Highland Terrier Delboy, including details of the dog's condition, the ISPCA's involvement, and the judge's reasoning.
suspect, Andrew Byrne, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew Byrne