President Higgins honours gardaí at animal sanctuary event

Six members of An Garda Síochána were on Friday bestowed with honorary medals by the DSPCA for their work in uncovering and preventing instances of cruelty to animals.

A presentation ceremony at the DSPCA shelters in Rathfarnham was attended by President Michael D Higgins, who commended the work being done by staff and members at the organisation which is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

Among those given the distinction were Garda Darryl Hearns from Ronanstown station who assisted DSPCA inspectors and customs officials in intercepting the attempted transport of farmed puppies into Europe, and Garda Shane Mengessidis who helped secure the conviction of a man who was caught beating his dog to death in a public park earlier this year.

Others honoured included gardaí Alan McGrath (Swords), Matthew O’Connor (Malahide), Susan Malone (Bray) and Paul McLoughlin (Tallaght) who all succeeded in taking members of the public to court for negligent treatment of animals.

DSPCA inspectors Liam Kinsella and Tony McGovern were also given medals in recognition of their continued service to the organisation, and their dedication to preventing animal cruelty.

The facility near the Dublin/Wicklow mountains can accommodate up to 250 animals at any given time, and the President was greeted at the front entrance by a pair of Irish Wolfhounds draped in blue coats emblazoned with the national symbol of a golden harp.

Patron

DSPCA staff, vets and volunteers were on hand to guide the head of State around the shelter’s indoor dog kennels and introduce him to some of their inhabitants before Mr Higgins partook in the presentation ceremony.

The Labour politician – himself an owner of two Bernese mountain dogs – is an honorary patron of the charity and has regularly championed the cause of animal welfare in the past.

Addressing the audience, he reminisced on his own involvement in “looking after other life forms”.

“I’ve had goats that have wandered into me . . . I’ve had a mare that gave birth, and the putative owner came to me 18 months later to say to me ‘I believe you have our horse’.

“I remember the visit of a goat who also gave birth, and when the postman looked at the droppings outside my house he would fire the letters in at me,” he said.

“Today we celebrate 175 years of the most wonderful work in looking after other life forms. When all of the language is deconstructed that is what is important, and I think as well that all of us who have benefited from the close proximity of animals know what we will get back,” he added.