Man threatened to kill inspector who called to check on puppies
A man who threatened to kill an ISPCA officer in the course of performing her duties has been given a suspended prison sentence and a 20-year ban from owning dogs.
Dylan Greene (29), of 87 Springlawn, Longford, Co Longford, appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly this afternoon at Longford Circuit Court, where he was sentenced for threatening to kill or cause serious harm to ISPCA officer Karen Lyons on January 28, 2021.
The court had previously heard that Ms Lyons arrived at the property to check on the welfare of a number of puppies in Mr Greene’s care, but she was met with what Judge Connolly described as “utterly terrifying” behaviour from Mr Greene.
In the lengthy exchange between the two, Mr Greene branded Ms Lyons a “dirty whore” and a “simple handicap” and, in his evidence at a Newton hearing earlier this year, he admitted: “I genuinely said I was going to stab her to death and called her the height of names.”
A psychiatric report furnished to the court today confirmed Mr Greene has a long history of being discharged from mental health services for not attending appointments.
Counsel for the defence, Mr Gerard Groarke BL, confirmed that the accused has been engaging with services recently and was determined to continue to do so.
Mr Groarke also drew the court’s attention to a probation report which listed Mr Greene at risk of reoffending despite his positive engagement with the probation service, due to his employment situation, his emotional and psychiatric issues, substance abuse issues and a lack of family support.
However, Mr Groarke outlined, Mr Greene is currently in a committed relationship and has four children, which addresses the family support concerns. Furthermore, he is in the process of setting up a computer business with his cousin, addressing the employment issues.
In terms of emotional and psychiatric issues, as well as substance abuse issues, Mr Greene is engaging with services, and he “hasn’t touched drugs in a long time and is not a drinker”.
“So the risk factor is certainly being actively addressed and his risk of reoffending, with time, will decrease,” said Mr Groarke.
Mr Greene has also completed six sessions of anger management, has deleted a petition against the ISPCA which had previously been in circulation and currently only owns one animal, an 11-year-old dog named Rocky.
“When I was refamiliarising myself with this case, it occurred to me that these circumstances arose out of both parties’ love of animals,” said Judge Connolly.
“Ms Lyons appeared to me a sincere woman, who is committed to her job. She impressed me very greatly with her evidence.
“Unfortunately, this took place against the background of Mr Greene’s own love for animals,” he added.
“Mr Greene gave evidence of a previous, who had been removed from his care in circumstances that he believed were unjust. It seems he was very, very upset by that and he believed the dog had been put down but we heard that she’d been adopted by a family and was very well cared for.
“But it is a tragedy that something so sinister for Ms Lyons arose out of a love for animals. Mr Greene’s actions were unacceptable and I think he has an understanding about that.
“We know this was not frightening or scary for Ms Lyons but utterly terrifying for a lady who was going about her duties, caring for animals and you subjected her to utterly revolting and appalling language, which I will not repeat in court.”
Threats were made to Ms Lyons, which involved the use of a golf club, which Mr Green banged off walls, off a door frame and off his own vehicle, Judge Connolloy noted. The club was then held in close proximity to Ms Lyons’ nose, which was a “terrifying” experience.
Judge Connolly noted that Ms Lyons’ own vehicle was close by and she managed to make “a speedy getaway” but she did not get to carry out her duty in respect to the welfare of the puppies.
“I’m satisfied this was an utterly terrifying experience for Ms Lyons. It is unacceptable to me and it is unacceptable to society and it must be punished,” he said.
In fact, he noted, such offences were considered so serious by the state that there is a maximum sentence of ten years for this type of behaviour.
Turning to sentencing, Judge Connolly said, “I don’t see any provocation or justification”.
“You say she was forceful when trying to enter your property. She was forceful because she wanted to see the pups and check their welfare. That is her job and if she was forceful, that was her job, so I place no criticism on Ms Lyons. All criticism lies with you,” Judge Connolly told Mr Greene.
Aggravating factors in terms of sentencing included the nature of the offence, which the judge said was an “absolutely terrifying ordeal”, compounded by the “utterly foul and despicable language, the rage and the temper you subjected her too”, as well as the use of a golf club and the length of time the ordeal went on for.
Mr Greene also has a lot of previous convictions, one of which was a section 3 assault in 2018, for which he received a three month suspended prison sentence. While Judge Connolly noted this offence was “of some vintage”, he considered it relevant in the context of this sentencing.
Mitigating factors include an early plea of guilt, his family circumstances and helpful psychiatric and probation reports.
After mitigation, Judge Connolly set the headline sentence at four years, which he reduced to three years and six months.
“But this matter is very unique because in addition to the matters discussed there is a difficult family dynamic in relation to an injury caused to Mr Greene’s eldest son, who is brain damaged from falling from a window,” said Judge Connolly.
“Mr Greene and his partner are full time carers for him. Their next daughter has severe autism. Their four-year-old child is in good health and their two-year-old has had facial surgery. These are people with a tough situation on their hands.
“Normally, you’d say ‘he should’ve thought about that before he subjected a woman to this ordeal’, but this is different because Mr Greene experienced extreme difficulties in his formative years,” he continued.
“I’m impressed by the level of adversity he’s had to endure. It doesn’t excuse or lesson the offence but it does inform the context of the offence, the behaviour, the anger and rage, which are in no way acceptable.
“The court is not easily impressed, but in this particular case, I do find myself swayed and impressed by his engagement with various programmes.”
Judge Connolly also noted that Mr Greene had adhered to all conditions imposed on him by the court.
“I intend to, somewhat reluctantly, suspended the sentence in its entirety, but it will be suspended for a long time,” he said.
“I am not the judge to draw for a section 99 re-entry, Mr Greene, and I have heard that back about myself. I am suspending the sentence for five years but if you step out of line in any way at all it would take a herculean effort to stop me from putting you in jail for three years and six months.”
Strict conditions were imposed on Mr Greene, including that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years, that there be “absolutely no blips whatsoever”, that he engage in the relevant services until advised otherwise and that he have no contact with Ms Lyons.
“In the event that an ISPCA officer attends your home, they are to be treated appropriately,” said Judge Connolly.
“And my final condition is the one that is going to hurt the most, Mr Greene, considering your love of animals. With the exception of Rocky, I’m going to ban you from keeping any canine in your home for a period of 20 years.
“You can keep no canines either yourself or in your home, so I don’t want to hear it’s your son’s dog or your partner’s dog.
“I can assure you that if you breach any of those conditions, I will put you in jail for three years and six months,” he concluded.
