Would-be ferret thief hit by €50 fine
Thursday July 23 2009
ANIMAL welfare staff were astounded when a man coolly walked into their care shelter and attempted to steal a ferret.
Cork District Court heard that Patrick O'Reilly (40) was spotted by a CSPCA inspector as he reached into a cage, grabbed a ferret and prepared to leave the shelter with it.
Gardai caught O'Reilly before he was able to leave.
Judge Uinsinn MacGruairc was told the incident occurred at Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) new care shelter at Mahon.
The court heard that the ferret was uninjured.
O'Reilly of Ballinure Avenue, Mahon, Cork, was fined €50 for the incident and warned about his future behaviour.
