Horse owners fined for keeping them in St Mary's Park
THE owners of eight illegally held horses who were stabled in the back gardens of houses in St Mary's Park have been fined at Limerick District Court.
The nephew of murdered crime boss Kieran Keane was one of three horse owners to appear before the court last Thursday.
Owen Treacy, who was the chief prosecution witness in the Kieran Keane murder trial, was stabbed 17 times on the night his uncle was shot dead in January 2002.
His home on St Munchin's Street was searched under warrant at 7.30am last Thursday under the Control of Horses Act and three horses were discovered in stables at the back of his house.
Garda Pat Kennedy told the court that Mr Treacy admitted he was the owner of the animals and accepted that he had no licence to keep them.
The 37-year-old was charged with the unlawful possession of three horses within the city boundary, and with keeping the horses without a licence.
Inspector Seamus Nolan said Mr Treacy had five similar charges taken into consideration on May 30 last year.
Under cross examination by solicitor John Devane, Garda Kennedy agreed that the animals were not neglected; that they had access to food and water, and that it was not necessary to call a vet.
Mr Devane said his client enjoys keeping horses and was used to riding them on the river bank. He said Mr Treacy did keep animals in County Clare but the fodder and grass was eaten by other animals so he brought them back to St Mary's Park.
Judge Leo Malone said the defendant has to obey the laws like everyone else. The judge said he would not impose a custodial sentence and instead imposed a fine of €500 on one charge and took the five remaining charges into consideration.
Alan Keane of St Ita's Street, pleaded guilty to eight charges in relation to four horses. The 31-year-old, who also has convictions for similar offences, was fined €500 by Judge Malone.
Gerard Duhig with an address at St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park admitted keeping one horse without a licence within the city boundary. The court heard the horse was "well watered and fed". The 35-year-old, who has no previous convictions, was fined €350.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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