Man jumped on horse as gardai tried to seize the animal

Horse owner Mark Carlyle (25) was given a five-month suspended sentence after Dublin District Court heard he had "lost the head" during the incident.

Judge Bryan Smyth suspended the sentence for a year and fined him €250.

Carlyle, with an address at Derry Park, Crumlin, was charged with wilfully permitting a horse to pose a danger to a person, as well as failing to comply with garda directions to desist, or assist them, all under the Control of Horses Act.

He was also charged with causing a breach of the peace and garda obstruction in the same incident at Lisle Road, Crumlin, last May 20.

He denied some of the charges, saying he had "lost his head" because the mare was being closed in with a stallion during the incident.

Judge Smyth convicted him on all counts.

The court heard the horse was being seized and gardai were trying to place it in a horse box at the time.

Judge Smyth said the accused not only obstructed the gardai, but he "ramped up" the situation and posed a risk to others by jumping on the horse's back.

Defence solicitor Michael Hanahoe said the horse that was seized has since been licensed and tagged.

Carlyle felt he had not put anyone in danger.

He has a number of previous convictions.

hnews@herald.ie