Dog row settled but neighbours refuse handshakes
David and Ryan Moloney ,Lecarrow,Tulla, Co Clare with their Great Dane whose pet name is "Ebony" and also named "Love for Life". Photograph by Eamon Ward (Gordon Deegan is sending story on follow up to Court Case)
THE OWNER of a dog that was at the centre of a legal row is unwilling to shake hands with his neighbour after the court case.
But Ryan Moloney (13) and his father are delighted that the five-year-old dog Love For Life -- pet name Ebony -- is now certified to have pedigree pups.
The secondary-school pupil was speaking yesterday after a legal dispute with his neighbours was settled at Ennis Circuit Court on Friday.
His neighbour, Orla Killeen King, who gave him the dog, agreed to lift a clause on Kennel Club papers that said the dog was not for breeding.
This so-called "endorsement" did not prohibit the dog from having pups, but meant that the pups would not be considered pedigree dogs and would be worth far less when sold. Great Dane pedigree pups can earn an owner €1,000 each.
Speaking at the family home in Leacarrow, Tulla, Co Clare, Ryan said: "We are really happy. That is all we ever wanted -- to have the endorsement lifted."
After the court case, he gave Ebony a biscuit to celebrate the outcome.
"I brought her for a long walk. Ebony has a lovely temperament," he said. "She is a very quiet dog. It was just awful upsetting when we found out that there was an endorsement in 2009."
After the two sides settled, Judge James O'Donohoe urged them to shake hands after court.
But David Moloney said yesterday: "We are very happy with the court outcome, but it should never have gone to court.
"There is no prospect of us making up. I won't be shaking hands with them."
Pups
The Moloneys live on a narrow country road and the nearest house is the King property across the way. David Moloney said they fell out after being on "very, very good terms".
"Orla was on a sun holiday with us in June and her husband Michael stayed at home and he looked after Ebony."
Mr Moloney said the neighbours had a falling out in July 2007, but declined to state what it was about.
Ms Killeen King placed the endorsement on the dog in November 2007, five months after giving it to Ryan. Mr Moloney said he only discovered in 2009 that there was an endorsement after Ebony had a litter of eight pups which he was going to sell.
He said he had to subsequently contact the buyers to inform them that Love For Life's papers were not in order and the pups were then sold for half of an agreed €800 figure.
Mr Moloney said he would now send on the papers without the endorsement to the buyers.
He said: "I am glad for them that they can have their papers now."
Ebony is also due to be examined by a vet to see if she can have more pups.
"Ebony is five and the average life expectancy for a Great Dane is eight," said Ryan. "We'll have her checked out first to see if she can breed. You don't want to put her through torture if she isn't up to it."
In the case, Ryan was suing Ms Killeen King through his father over an alleged breach of contract relating to Love for Life.
- Gordon Deegan
Irish Independent
