We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A MAN HAS been convicted for smuggling 88 pups through Dublin Port without the proper papers, in the first conviction of its kind under new legislation.
Joseph O’Reilly of Bailiborough, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Virginia District Court last Tuesday to one offence relating to the illegal export of puppies.
The pups were among a huge group of 116 seized at Dublin Port in February of last year, in a joint operation by inspectors from the DSPCA, Customs officers, and gardaí.
Gillian Bird of the DSPCA told TheJournal.ie they were happy with the conviction.
“We’re delighted, as it’s the first of its kind,” she said.
“And some might give out and say it should be a prison sentence, but it’s a really good result for the first conviction – he pleaded guilty.
And if he re-offends the sentence will be much, much higher, so it’s a good lesson, a good starting point.
Two of the pups were lost to sickness, but the DSPCA were able to rehome the rest, having been assigned ownership by O’Reilly within weeks of the seizure.
Pugs, West Highland Terriers, cocker spaniels, shih tzus, labradoodles and beagles were among the breeds being transported.
All of the puppies were aged between four and eight weeks. While 116 dogs were found initially, they were discovered in two batches, with this case dealing with the larger of the two.
Fine and costs
None of the puppies seized had a pet passport, which is required under law to show the animal has been vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and seen by a vet.
The accused pleaded guilty, and a fine and costs of €4,000 were imposed.
This case is the first of its kind under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 brought in by Simon Coveney, then Minister for Agriculture.
It came into effect in March 2014.
In a statement, the DSPCA said: ”[We] congratulate the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the successful prosecution…
The conviction sets the ground for further prosecutions and sentences for people who flout the laws surrounding the transport and export of puppies from Ireland into Britain.
Legislation
The 2013 Act requires exported dogs to have a pet passport signed by a veterinary surgeon, plus appropriate vaccinations, including one for rabies – effectively limiting exports to puppies over 15 weeks of age.
Puppies must also be microchipped and registered with an approved database, and a health check must be undertaken prior to their departure, to confirm their fitness to travel.
In addition, all vehicles used for the transportation of dogs and puppies must be approved and licensed by the Department of Agriculture.
Penalties for the illegal export of puppies include fines of up to €250,000 and/or a five-year custodial sentence.
The DSPCA said they believe that a large amount of puppies continue to be exported illegally from the Republic.
They have urged anyone with information about illegal exports to email cruelty@dspca.ie, or to fill in their online confidential cruelty report form.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
4000 euro. The profit on about 8 puppies. I’m sure he sees this as the cost of doing business in Ireland. Absolutely no deterrent. Disgusting
€40,000 be more like it. Another crap sentence.
anything short of being hung, drawn & quartered seems to be regarded as a crap sentence in these parts
It IS a crap sentence. The law should act as a deterrent, being fined €45 per dog, when he is likely selling them for 5-10 times that doesn’t act as any sort of deterrent.
It would be like fining people caught with no car tax €20.
It sets a dangerously low precedent for future cases and if anything makes the risk/reward worth taking the chance.
Some eye-opening footage of the puppy farm trade (some of it filmed in Cavan) from BBC’s Panorama (30mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rmg-tMXbLU
For those who don’t have time for the 30 min programme, here is an edited 2 minute video ( filmed in Cavan also):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxVJVyXlgs
Yes Jayo, the €4000 fine was ridiculous, it was the price of 8 puppies. This guy was smuggling 88 of them.
‘Penalties for illegal export of puppies include fines up to €250k and a 5 year prison sentence.’ But in reality they end up being a €4k fine and a slap on the wrist.
animals are treated like commodities and this is the result
At the VERY least he should also be liable for cost of all care for the recovered animals until suitable homes can be found for them.
SPCA’s struggle enough caring for abandoned/lost animals without being saddled with the cost of looking after all these dogs as a result of someone trying to make a few quid illegally. I can only imagine the bills associated with caring for this amount of pups.
If he re-offends no doubt all he would get is a suspended sentence, he should of got jail first day ,,we are way to easy on these sh#T heads
It’s good that at least this case was successfully brought. However, the difference between his potential profit had he not caught, and the fine imposed goes to show that judges in this country still don’t treat animal cruelty matters as being serious. Note that some puppies died!!!!!!!
a puppy dies every time you use more than one exclamation mark
If he made €200 profit on each puppy (88) that would be €17,600. Yet he’s only fined €4,000.
i dont think he made any profit on these particular puppies
Yeah but he didn’t get to make the 17k as the pups were taken off him so instead of being up 17k he’s now minus 4 k and his good name if he had one ;ruined
A better sentence would see him going around the country picking up all the dog shite that irresponsible dog walkers fail to pick up
Unbelievable. Screw this guy and people who purchase dogs driving this market.
would those purchasing be aware they are buying from an animal trafficker? if they are then is their own culpability in the trade penalised?
Has this Judge not been aware that this fellow probably successfully transported puppies before and got away with his crime . This is not his first time and wont be his last . As was pointed out in another post Judge’s need to educate themselves in animal cruelty and get serious about the sentences they hand out.
Only fined 45 Euro per puppy for smuggling them. Disgusting!! Heck would almost have to pay that on some items on import tax. Really sickening.
Shocking — judges have no prisons to send them to and it suit the judges, their families who are also solicitors and barristers. Repeat offenders and those out on bail are their best customers.
It’s so difficult for a rescue to get a case before the courts and when they do the judge hands down a very light punishment. The message is not getting out there to these unscrupulous puppy farmers. All eyes will be on the Myshall case and if he does not get a prison sentence together with the maximum fine then nobody will.
Good result shudda got jail, on another note…….labradoodle…..whats next a fekin pugwieller
worse than selling cocaine in my eyes. people choose to snort coke, what these lil pups ever do to anyone.. 4 k what a joke
Should be a mandatory jail sentence also.
What a joke…€4000?? Considering he got paid by the DSPCA for the pups he’s laughing all the way to the bank. So he gets paid because he challenged the legality of the seizure and you are happy with the outcome? The Animal
Welfare laws in this country stink..
His fine is probably way less than his profit would have been from selling them. No biggie punishment there.
€4.000?? That’s a joke!!! That will really deter him from doing this again!!!! But, we’re talking here about Irish Judges who are not living in the ‘real’ world!!! Justice never prevails in Ireland.
have your say