A MAN who dropped a kitten to its death from a high rise balcony has been sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in Dublin District Court.
Karl Rice (26), of Dolphins House, Dolphin's Barn, was sentenced in his absence yesterday under the Protection of Animals. Act 1911 for what Judge James McDonnell described as "unacceptable cruelty".
Garda Brian Cagney said he had been patrolling in Dolphin House at 9.15 a.m. when he saw a cat being dropped from a balcony. When he looked up he saw. Rice with his elbows on the balcony looking over the edge.
Garda Cagney challenged Rice on whether he had dropped the cat. Rice denied all knowledge of the incident.
Two elderly women were near the body of the cat and were screaming. Some children on their way to school also witnessed the scene. All were unwilling to provide statements to the Garda.
Later, Rice admitted to Garda Cagney that he had dropped the eight week kitten from the balcony because he "was fed up with his girlfriend" and the attachment their 2 1/2 year old child had with the kitten.
Garda Cagney contacted the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In evidence, an inspector, Mr Robert Kenny, said when he found the cat its back was broken. He claimed Rice admitted he had dropped the cat from the balcony because he was fed up as result of a domestic dispute.
A DSPCA vet later carried out a post mortem and found that the cat's back was broken and there was several crushed vertebrae.
Before delivering sentence, Judge James McDonnell said: Cruelty of this kind is totally unacceptable in any case especially in the course of a domestic dispute. This action was obviously designed to frighten the child and woman involved.