Court orders man to make donation to Waterford dog pound
Waterford courthouse
A Waterford man threatened to damage the dog pound when a worker refused to return his dog.
Irial O’Rourke (43) of 232 Larchville, Browns Road, pleaded guilty to threatening to cause arson and damage the Waterford City and County Dog Pound, Bilberry, on February 1, 2025.
Inspector Eoin Doyle told the court that at the time of the incident, the pound reported that a man came in without paperwork to claim a dog.
When he was told he would have to come back with the paperwork, he produced a sledgehammer and threatened to damage the property.
The court was told the man had 14 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Hilary Delahunty told the court that on the day, his client’s dog had been in the care of his father.
This was reported to the warden, who seized the dog.
The defendant went to claim the dog and “the conversation escalated”.
Judge John Cheatle ordered the man to pay a €200 donation to the dog pound by May 26.
