A man had charges of illegally hunting badgers dismissed against him, but was convicted and fined €350 for other offences under the Wildlife Act at Mullingar District Court yesterday.
Michael O'Dowd (45), of Grange Crescent, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was before Judge David Anderson on five charges under the Act. He pleaded guilty to charges of interfering with the breeding place of a protected wild animal (badger) and failure to comply with a requirement to show the instruments and dogs used for hunting. However, three other charges were struck out.
The charges were brought against O'Dowd following an incident at Rochfort Demense, Mullingar, on May 26th, 2003.
The court heard that three wildlife rangers were investigating a complaint that O'Dowd had been hunting badgers on Westmeath County Council land on the eastern shore of Lough Ennel.
Sgt Terry Quinn told the judge that the rangers discovered that a badger set had been freshly dug out and filled. They called to the home of O'Dowd, and questioned him.
The court was told O'Dowd admitted he was hunting with his dogs that morning, but said he was hunting foxes. Sgt Quinn said O'Dowd refused to show the rangers his dogs or the spade used. Following this, the rangers made a complaint to the Garda.
In a statement to the Garda, O'Dowd said he had gone hunting foxes with a 14-year-old and two dogs, one a terrier. The terrier had gone into the set, and he had had to dig him out.
Mr Bob Marren, defending, said O'Dowd had no previous convictions. He had only disturbed the set to dig out his dog, and was pleading guilty to this offence.
Judge Anderson imposed a €250 fine for interfering with the set. O'Dowd was fined a further €100 for failing to comply with the request of the rangers to show the dogs and equipment used for hunting.