Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3348Animal cruelty, theft · Co. Monaghan · 13 May 2025

Retired couple jailed for three months over cat tied in bag and left at lake in Monaghan

Patrick Connolly (67) and Bernie Connolly (64) of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, were sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Monaghan District Court after pleading guilty to animal cruelty for capturing their neighbour's cat, tying it in a bag, and leaving it at Creevy Lake in May 2025. The cat was found three days later in very poor condition but alive.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe cat was a female cat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe cat was left at Creevy Lake, outside Carrickmacross. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe Connollys live at Alderwood, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 13 May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenCCTV showed Patrick Connolly lifting the cat from his patio at about 9.50am. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe Connollys' grandchildren had been coming into the house with cat dirt on their shoes and hands. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe Connollys had approached their neighbours a few times to ask them to keep the cat out of their garden. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSgt Jim McGovern gave evidence about the CCTV footage and the victim's report at Carrickmacross Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Monaghan District Court before Judge Raymond Finnegan. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe theft charges were taken into consideration in sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceRecognisances for appeal of the sentence were set at €250 cash for each defendant. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPatrick Connolly had already received an adult caution for the theft of the cat. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPatrick Connolly was previously employed as a lollipop man for six years before retiring. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple have three adult children and seven grandchildren. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Connollys first denied any knowledge of the cat but made admissions after CCTV footage was downloaded. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendants offered €1,000 in compensation for their actions. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Apr2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Retired couple who abducted neighbour’s cat and tied it in a bag jailed for animal cruelty

    Full sentencing hearing details including CCTV evidence, background on the neighbourly dispute over the cat, and Judge Finnegan's remarks.

    victim, Agnieszka Krajewska, female, non-irish (judged from name)Agnieszka Krajewskaconvicted, Patrick Connolly, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Connollyconvicted, Bernie Connolly, 64, female, named, irish (judged from name)Bernie Connolly