Ireland Horse owner convicted in absentia of animal cruelty at Clonmel District Court
Fiona Hickey, who has an address at Carrigoreilly, Caherconlish, Co. Limerick, had a chestnut gelding horse dropped to a yard in Co. Waterford in January 2024 so that it could be broken. Concerns about the horse's condition led to an ISPCA inspector seizing it, and a veterinary examination found it had endured a level of starvation. Hickey was charged under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, did not appear at Clonmel District Court, and Judge Brian O'Shea heard the evidence in her absence. The latest development, reported on 17 January 2025, is that she was convicted on all four counts, fined a total of €4,000, ordered to pay ISPCA costs of €4,385.60, and the horse was forfeited to the ISPCA.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted17 Jan
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Fiona Hickey was charged under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in relation to a chestnut gelding horse, now named Mac.
- Where
- The horse was dropped to a yard in Co. Waterford, and Hickey's address is given as Carrigoreilly, Caherconlish, Co. Limerick.
- When
- The horse was dropped to the Waterford yard in January 2024.
- Other details
- Hickey dropped the horse to the yard so that it could be broken.
- Investigation
- Concerns about the horse's condition led to the Department of Agriculture and the ISPCA being alerted.
- An ISPCA inspector described the horse as being in extremely poor body condition and seized it pending further enquiries.
- A veterinary examination found the horse had endured a level of starvation, and a vet gave the opinion that it suffered unnecessarily.
- In court
- Judge Brian O'Shea heard the evidence at Clonmel District Court in Hickey's absence.
- An email from Hickey denying ownership of the horse was read in court.
- Sentence
- Hickey was convicted on all four counts in her absence.
- Hickey was fined a total of €4,000.
- Hickey was ordered to pay ISPCA costs of €4,385.60, and the seized horse was forfeited to the ISPCA.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whenThe horse was dropped to a yard in Co. Waterford by the defendant in January 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationConcerns about the horse's condition led to the Department of Agriculture and the ISPCA being alerted. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationAn ISPCA inspector described the horse as being in extremely poor body condition. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe inspector seized the horse pending further enquiries. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationA veterinary examination said the horse had endured a level of starvation. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe defendant was charged under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in relation to a chestnut gelding horse. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge heard the evidence in the defendant's absence. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtAn email from the defendant denying ownership of the horse was read in court. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was convicted on all four counts in her absence. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was fined a total of €4,000. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was ordered to pay ISPCA costs of €4,385.60. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe seized horse was forfeited to the ISPCA. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jan2025'Endured a level of starvation:' Limerick horse owner convicted of animal cruelty
Reports the conviction on all four counts, the €4,000 fine, ISPCA costs of €4,385.60 and forfeiture of the horse. No existing case in the list matches this article.
convicted, FIONA Hickey, female, named, irish (judged from name)FIONA Hickey