Ireland Case No. 2458Causing unnecessary suffering to animals, theft · Co. Dublin · 26 Jun 2024
Man jailed for 15 months over pig cruelty at Thornton Hall
Darren Jackson, a 39-year-old former IT worker from Rivermeade, Co Dublin, was arrested after two pigs were found with stab and slash wounds at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, north Dublin, on the evening of 26 June 2024. He was charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and one count of theft, and the case was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2025. Jackson pleaded guilty to the two animal cruelty counts and was sentenced in November 2025 to 15 months' imprisonment, a headline sentence of two years reduced for substantial mitigation. The 160-acre site had been earmarked for an international protection accommodation centre, and the court heard the incident was linked to opposition to the plans.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged6 Jan
3 reports - In court28 Jan
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Nov
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two pigs were found with stab and slash wounds at Thornton Hall on 26 June 2024, attended to by a vet, and subsequently euthanised, while a third pig was unharmed and taken into care.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Thornton Hall, a 160-acre former super prison site in Kilsallaghan, north county Dublin, which had been earmarked for an international protection accommodation centre.
- When
- The pig offences occurred on 26 June 2024 and the theft of keys occurred on 25 June 2024.
- Cause
- Jackson admitted driving four pigs from a farm in Cavan to the site and said an accomplice used a scalpel to injure the animals; some men involved believed pigs and pig blood would deter Muslim people from the site.
- Weapon
- A scalpel was used to injure the pigs, and Jackson had left a voice note for his brother saying he needed knives and scalpels for a job.
- Investigation
- Gardaí found video footage showing Jackson driving his van wearing a balaclava, and investigations into criminal activity at state lands in Kilsallaghan are ongoing.
- Charges
- Jackson was charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to or endangering the health and welfare of two pigs under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, and one count of stealing a set of keys to a portable lighting generator under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001.
- In court
- Jackson appeared at Balbriggan District Court in January 2025, was remanded on bail with conditions including staying away from all international protection accommodation sites, and was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial.
- Sentence
- Jackson pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan in November 2025 to 15 months' imprisonment, a headline sentence of two years reduced for substantial mitigation.
- Other details
- Jackson, a former IT worker aged 39 (later reports give 40), has five previous convictions including assault, and made a payment of €1,000 to an animal welfare trust.
77 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was arrested at the time of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDarren Jackson, 39, of Rivermeade Drive, Rivermeade, Co Dublin appeared before Balbriggan District Court charged with three offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo injured pigs were discovered at the location, attended to by a vet, and subsequently euthanised. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA third pig, unharmed, was taken into care. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo injured pigs discovered at the site were attended to by a vet and subsequently euthanised. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA third pig was unharmed and was taken into care. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused is Darren Jackson, 39, of Rivermeade Drive, Rivermeade, Co Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo injured pigs were discovered at the location (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe injured pigs were attended to by a vet and subsequently euthanised (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA former IT worker was jailed for 15 months for two acts of animal cruelty. (rte.ie)
- whatThe two injured pigs were put down and the other two were re-homed. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatJackson was jailed for 15 months for two acts of animal cruelty. (thejournal.ie)
- whatOne pig had 5cm long cuts and was missing a front leg, and another had cuts to the stomach. (thejournal.ie)
- whatTwo pigs were found with stab and slash wounds at Thornton Hall. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences occurred at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, north county Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whereSecurity guards at Thornton Hall in north Dublin found two pigs with stab and slash wounds. (rte.ie)
- whereSecurity guards found two pigs with stab and slash wounds at Thornton Hall in north Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe site is a 160 acre former super prison site at Thornton Hall in north Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, 26 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí were called to Thornton Hall on Wednesday evening, 26 June 2024, at around 5.30pm. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenGardaí were called out to Thornton Hall at around 5.30pm on the evening of 26 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe pig offences occurred on 26 June 2024 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe key theft occurred on 25 June 2024 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenHe is to appear again on Monday, 10 February 2025 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenSecurity guards saw two men entering the site a little after 5pm on 26 June 2024. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident happened a little after 5pm on 26 June 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 26 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- causeJackson admitted driving four pigs from a farm in Cavan to the site. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- causeJackson said an accomplice used a scalpel to injure the animals. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- causePlans had emerged for an accommodation centre for international protection applicants on the site. (irishtimes.com)
- causeSome men involved believed that allowing pigs and pig blood on the site would stop Muslim people going there. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponJackson had left a voice note for his brother saying he needed knives and scalpels for a job. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating criminal activity at state lands in Kilsallaghan, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigators found video footage showing Jackson driving his van wearing a balaclava. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí said Jackson left a voice note for his brother saying he needed knives and scalpels for a job. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí said Jackson left a voice note for his brother asking for knives and scalpels for a job. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigators found video footage showing Jackson driving his van wearing a balaclava and singing modified IRA songs. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe DPP has directed that the man be charged in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to or endangering the health and welfare of two pigs at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, on 26 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe animal welfare offences are contrary to Section 12(1) and (2) and Section 52(2) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- chargeHe is further charged with stealing a set of keys to a portable lighting generator of IGO Emergency Management Services at Thornton Hall on 25 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe theft offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- chargeJackson is charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to, or endangering the health or welfare of an animal at Thornton Hall, Killsallaghan, Swords, on 26 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeJackson is also charged with stealing a set of keys at the same site on 25 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to or endangering the health and welfare of two pigs (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeHe is further charged with stealing a set of keys to a portable lighting generator of IGO Emergency Management Services (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeJackson pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man is due to appear before Balbriggan District Court on 7 January 2025 at 10:30am. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGarda Philip Walsh of Swords Garda Station told Judge Dermot Dempsey he charged the accused and handed him a true copy of the charge sheets. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail conditions include signing on at Swords Garda Station twice a week, notifying gardaí of a change of residential address, and staying away from all International Protection Accommodation sites. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment in the circuit court and directed the accused be sent forward on a signed plea for sentencing should that arise. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Dempsey remanded the accused on his own bond of €500 to appear before Balbriggan District Court on Tuesday, January 28. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJackson was in Swords District Court on Tuesday when his case came before Judge Shalom Binchy. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed that Jackson be sent forward for trial on indictment or on signed plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 10 February for formal service of the book of evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJackson was remanded on continuing bail to 10 February. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Philip Walsh of Swords Garda station said Jackson made no reply to the charges after caution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJackson was directed to sign on at Swords Garda station twice weekly and to stay away from all international protection sites. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe appeared at Swords District Court sitting in Balbriggan before Judge Shalom Binchy (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the accused on continuing bail (dublinlive.ie)
- courtHe will be formally served with the Book of Evidence and sent forward to the circuit court for trial (dublinlive.ie)
- courtBail conditions include signing on at Swords Garda Station twice a week (dublinlive.ie)
- courtBail conditions include notifying gardaí of a change of residential address (dublinlive.ie)
- courtBail conditions include staying away from all International Protection Accommodation sites (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe facts were heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of two years, reduced to 15 months for substantial mitigations. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of two years and reduced it to 15 months for substantial mitigations. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of two years, reduced to 15 months for mitigation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe government intended to develop the Thornton Hall site as an international protection accommodation centre. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn August, the Department of Integration put in place a ministerial order to provide a planning exemption for works on the Thornton Hall site. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudicial review proceedings brought in October by local residents led to further works on the site being paused. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn August 2024 the Department of Integration put in place a Ministerial Order to provide a planning exemption for works at the site (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe judge said attacking pigs in this way was a pretty base thing to do. (rte.ie)
- otherJackson has made a payment of €1,000 to an animal welfare trust. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherJackson has five previous convictions, including assault. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Nov2025Former IT worker jailed for role in Thornton Hall pig stabbings
Sentencing report on the Thornton Hall pig stabbings. Adds the sentence, guilty plea, Garda evidence and the defendant's previous convictions. No earlier case in the list covers this incident.
convicted, Darren Jackson, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jacksonsuspect - 4 Nov2025Man jailed over cruelty to pigs at site earmarked for Ipas accommodation
Reports the sentence of 15 months (from a headline sentence of two years), the guilty plea to two counts of animal cruelty, Jackson's age as 40, and the context of protests against the proposed accommodation centre.
convicted, Darren Jackson, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jackson - 4 Nov2025Man jailed for 15 months over Thornton Hall pig stabbings
Reports the sentencing: 15 months' jail after a two-year headline sentence was reduced for mitigation. Gives Jackson's age as 40, where earlier reports said 39. Adds his statements to gardaí, the court's mitigation findings and his previous convictions.
convicted, Darren Jackson, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jackson - 29 Jan2025Man accused of stabbing two pigs outside proposed asylum centre to stand trial
District court appearance; remanded on continuing bail with conditions pending service of Book of Evidence and referral to Circuit Criminal Court for trial.
accused, Darren Jackson, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jackson - 28 Jan2025Man to be sent forward for trial in connection with alleged stabbing of two pigs at Thornton Hall site
Case sent forward for trial before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; adjourned to 10 February 2025 for formal service of book of evidence; Jackson remanded on continuing bail; court heard details of the incident (two injured pigs euthanised, third pig unharmed); background on Thornton Hall as planned international protection accommodation site provided.
suspect, Darren Jackson, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jackson - 7 Jan2025Man accused of stabbing pigs at Thornton Hall told to stay away from IPA sites
First court appearance; charged with three offences, remanded on €500 bond with bail conditions, DPP directed trial on indictment in the circuit court.
accused, Darren Jackson, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Jackson - 6 Jan2025Man due in court in relation to alleged 'criminal activity at state lands'
Confirms the DPP has directed charges and that the man is due to appear at Balbriggan District Court on 7 January 2025 at 10:30am; investigations remain ongoing.
suspect, 30s, male