'I cried like a baby after exhuming my beheaded pet Chihuahua Mousey'
Kieran Keogh with his partner Andrew Price and dog Millie. Their other dog, a Chihuahua called Mousey was violently killed.
Members of the Garda scene crime unit carry out an extensive at the garden of a house at Brewery Bend in Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow
Members of the Garda scenes crime unit carry out an extensive at the garden of a house at Brewery Bend in Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow where a dog had been decapitated last week-end
The head of the chihuahua
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A Wicklow man says he "cried like a newborn baby" after he dug up the remains of his decapitated pet Chihuahua.
Kieran Keogh, from Rathdrum, yesterday handed over the remains of his beloved Mousey, who he says was dognapped and beheaded last week.
Gardai are investigating the beheading, which has sent shockwaves through the community.
Our pictures show the moment that officers in Rathdrum removed the dog's corpse for a forensic analysis.
Gardai are understood to have given Mr Keogh the option of removing Mousey's remains himself from a homemade grave in his garden.
Emotional
Officers leading the investigation have interviewed both Mr Keogh (42) and his partner Andy.
Speaking to the Herald last night, Mr Keogh said he became deeply emotional after digging up his Chihuahua.
However, he added: "It shows the people out there who are doubting me that I'm telling the truth."
Mr Keogh said some people in the community had suggested that he was responsible for the death of his dog, which he had owned for three years.
"For anyone to think I would do something so sick makes me so angry," he added.
Gardai are due to return to the couple's home today in order to retrieve Mousey's head.
Mr Keogh said he had no idea why anyone would target him or his partner.
"I have no grievance with anybody in the area," he said.
Having discovered his pet's mutilated body, Mr Keogh began searching the neighbourhood frantically for Mousey's head.
When he returned home, he found the Chihuahua's head had been left on the back doorstep.
"I put the backyard light on and there he was with his little tongue sticking out and eyes looking up at me," he said.
"I've never been so sick in my life. He had only just turned three.
"Whoever did this deserves to have their own head cut off."
Sources last night said Mousey's remains would be sent to the garda's veterinary section for examination.
Inquiry
Officers are understood to be continuing to investigate a number of lines of inquiry.
Gardai have asked anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area to call Wicklow Garda Station on (0404) 67107.