A man has been accused of animal cruelty and torture after a pet rabbit was thrown into the river Liffey in Dublin earlier this month.
John Byrne (38), who has spent the past 22 years living on the streets, had been sitting on O’Connell Bridge for 10 days when his pet rabbit Barney was thrown into the Liffey. Hundreds watched as he risked his own life and went into the river to save Barney. Both were subsequently rescued by the Dublin Fire Brigade.
Gary Kearney (19), Conyngham Road, Dublin, also faces a breach of the peace charge. Judge David McHugh was told at Dublin District Court yesterday that he was not in court. “He is in custody in Cloverhill,” his solicitor Áine Flynn said.
Mr Kearney will appear before the court on July 28th.