A judge threatened to shoot two noisy dogs if measures taken by their owners did not satisfy their neighbours with whom there was an ongoing dispute.
Seamus Melia, a long distance lorry driver, and his partner Cecilia Thomas from Pullagh, Co Offaly had brought an action “as a last resort” against their neighbours, Keith and Aoife Murphy on account of the incessant barking and howling of the Murphys’ two caged dogs over the last 18 months.
In the District Court last week (September 14 ) Judge Seamus Hughes heard how the two dogs were kept in a pen adjacent to the Melia-Thomas property and were such a nuisance that they were interfering with Mr Melia’s sleep, and that they also had to move their eight-year-old son’s bedroom to the front of the house.
“There is nothing more annoying than the incessant barking of dogs,” noted Judge Hughes.
Though Keith Murphy denied his dogs were causing any nuisance, Judge Hughes ordered him to move the pen to the other side of his property, and in court this week (September 21 ) his solicitor Gráinne O’Neill said that he would, but because the pen was concreted in and had its own water supply this could take up to six weeks.
Solicitor for Mr Melia Padraig Quinn, felt this was too much, and asked Judge Hughes to order the dogs be kennelled for this period, and the judge seemed to agree.
“Is he willing to put them up in a hotel for that period?” the judge asked Ms O’Neill.
Ms O’Neill told the court her client was willing to fit his two dogs with an anti-bark collar which emits a small electric shock every time they bark.
“Don’t be giving me ideas, Ms O’Neill,” said Judge Hughes eyeing up the rank of solicitors beneath him.
“Let’s get real about this. Moving the pen to the other side of his property. Is that enough?” asked the judge.
“It’s quite expensive,” said Mr Murphy.
“I’m not interested in expense. It might be cheaper to put them down,” said the judge.
“They’re family pets,” protested Mr Murphy.
“I don’t care if they’re family pets. Either they’re kennelled or handed over to the dog warden,” said Judge Hughes.
“Mr Quinn, I need to know what my powers are here,” said the judge.
Returning to the case a little later Mr Quinn confirmed: “You have that power”.
Ms O’Neill offered a more immediate compromise saying the Murphys would “put up a temporary pen on the other side of my clients’ property, approximately 100m away from the complainants’ house” before starting on the more permanent alternative.
“That’ll be done when?” asked the judge.
“This evening,” said Ms O’Neill.
Judge Hughes adjourned a final decision until November 23 to allow for the new pen to be constructed, and warned Murphy the dogs would be shot if the finished pen is not to the satisfaction of the complainants.
