An unlicensed dog sitter handed over a deceased pet to its owner in a plastic bag and then attacked him. Owen Dempsey assaulted Martin Hulse after the French bulldog named Tank passed away while under Dempsey’s care. Hulse and his partner cut short their vacation upon learning of their beloved dog’s death.
The situation escalated when Hulse arrived to retrieve Tank’s body and questioned Dempsey about the circumstances. Dempsey became aggressive, headbutting Hulse and throwing punches while accusing him of implicating in the dog’s death. This incident unfolded following a previous case where a German Shepherd under Dempsey’s care went missing without a trace.
According to Angela Conlan, the prosecutor, Hulse engaged Dempsey’s dog-sitting services after coming across an online advertisement without any prior issues. However, things took a tragic turn when Tank died during his stay with Dempsey. The couple received a distressing call about Tank’s passing and rushed back home earlier than planned.
Dempsey violated animal welfare laws by operating without a proper license for dog boarding services. On the morning of September 9, Mrs. Dempsey handed over Tank’s body to Mrs. Hulse in a plastic bag, claiming he had been stored in a freezer. However, the body was not properly preserved, emitting a foul odor.
The confrontation between Dempsey and Hulse turned physical, resulting in Dempsey headbutting and punching Hulse before the latter managed to push him away. Despite a history of violent offenses, including previous convictions and a recent assault, Dempsey expressed remorse but failed to attend court proceedings, leading to a 16-week jail sentence.
District Judge Paul Healey highlighted the seriousness of the assault and Dempsey’s breach of a previous community order, emphasizing the need for immediate custodial action. Dempsey’s spouse reacted emotionally during the sentencing, leading to her removal from the courtroom. The judge stressed the importance of compliance with court orders and the consequences of failing to engage with probation services.
