A 60-YEAR-OLD man told a court in Limerick yesterday that he breeds birds in order to occupy his mind since his son was shot dead three years ago.
At Killaloe District Court, Ben Grant of St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick city, appeared in connection with 10 charges in relation to the alleged illegal hunting of a Great Tit Finch and Red Bull Finch on the 24th of February 2009 at Ardtaggle, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co Clare.
His co-accused and son, Ben Brosnan (32) of St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick city, in a prosecution being brought by the Department of the Environment, was facing eight charges arising from the same incident.
However, at the outset yesterday, State solicitor Martin Linnane told the court that the State was withdrawing all charges apart from Mr Grant and Mr Brosnan being charged with possession of a Great Tit on February 24th, 2009, at Ardtaggle, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co Clare.
Solicitor for the two, Chris Lynch, said that the two accused would plead guilty to the sole remaining charge of possession and told Judge Joseph Mangan that there was no question of selling the bird on for profit.
Mr Grant said he would use the Great Tit bird for cross-breeding with canaries he has at his home.
He said: “I look after them like you would look after a child.”
Mr Grant said that there “are thousands and millions” of tit birds in the countryside.
He said: “I breed the birds to occupy my mind since my young fella was shot dead three years ago. It just gets me out of the house.”
Wildlife ranger David Lyons told the court that the birds are not endangered, but are protected.
He said: “It is a breach of the Wildlife Act. The birds are protected and if everyone went around trapping them, it would put their population under serious threat.”
Mr Lynch said that Mr Grant was unemployed and the father of 11, while his son, Mr Brosnan was single, also unemployed and the father of three.
Mr Grant’s son, Gareth (25) was shot dead at St Mary’s Park, Limerick, on October 8th, 2007.
Mr Linnane said both men before the court have no previous convictions.
Asking Judge Mangan to be as lenient as possible, Mr Lynch said: “The men now realise what they did was against the law, but you won’t have any further difficulties with them.”
Mr Linnane said that there were witness expenses of €786.50 in the case.
However, Judge Mangan fined both €50 and said that the State could bear the costs of taking the prosecution.
After Judge Mangan issued the fine, Mr Grant said: “Your honour, I’d like to thank you.”
