Man jailed for animal cruelty acts linked to protests against asylum seeker housing

Declan Brennan

A former IT worker has been jailed for 15 months for two acts of animal cruelty linked to protests against asylum seeker housing.

In June 2024, security guards at Thornton Hall in north Dublin found two pigs with stab and slash wounds, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.

The 160-acre site was previously earmarked for a super prison, but in 2024 plans emerged for an accommodation centre for international protection applicants on the site.

Darren Jackson (40) of Rivermeade, Co Dublin admitted driving four pigs from a farm in Cavan to the site, but said that an accomplice used a scalpel to injure the animals.

The court heard that some of the men involved in the incident believed that by allowing pigs and pig blood onto the site, Muslim people would be prevented from going on to it due to religious observances.

Garda Philip Walsh gave evidence that Jackson had left a voice note for his brother telling him he needed “knives and scalpels” for a “job”. He went on to invite his brother to join him, saying: “If you want to do a job with us, it will be great craic.”

The court heard that a little after 5pm on June 26th, 2024, security guards saw two men entering the site and followed them to a spot where they found three pigs. One of the animals had 5cm long cuts and was missing a front leg, and was squealing, while another one had cuts to the stomach.

The cuts were between four and five centimetres deep. A vet called to the scene concluded the four pigs brought onto the site were likely “cast off” farm animals. The two injured animals were ultimately put down, while the other two were rehomed.

After his arrest, Jackson told gardaí his actions “had nothing to do with god or colour” and that “it's not the people's fault”, meaning immigrants, the court heard. He subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty.

Cathal McGreal BL, defending, said that his client told gardaí that he was homeless at the time and sleeping in a tent on the site. He said his protest was about the lack of resources and what he was getting.

He said there were other men on the site due to the ongoing protests against the plans for the international protection accommodation centre. He said there were discussions with these men about stopping the centre “indefinitely”.

“Somebody brought up the idea of pigs. I said they were idiots,” he told gardaí, claiming that he also made a point about the 1916 Proclamation guaranteeing “freedom for all”.

He said he then told the men he knew somebody who could get pigs, saying, “I know how to get pigs for a barbecue.”

He claimed he believed the animals would be let off. A text message was found on his phone stating: “Ring that farmer first thing, get the contract for the dead.”

Garda Walsh said during garda interviews, Jackson “distanced himself from any real responsibility” and refused to name others involved, citing fears for his own well-being.

Garda Walsh said that investigators found video footage showing Jackson driving his van wearing a balaclava singing versions of IRA songs modified to include the words pigs. The court heard it's believed the footage is of Jackson driving the pigs from Cavan.

Mr McGreal said this was not a crime for which his client is proud, and he will live with the shame of it.

Judge Martin Nolan said that “to attack pigs in this way was a pretty base thing to do”.

He said that Jackson was keeping bad company at the time. He said he could accept that Jackson wasn't the “author of this scheme” but he participated in it.

He noted Jackson's good work record. He set a headline sentence of two years, which he reduced to 15 months on the basis of the “substantial mitigations”.

Jackson has five previous convictions, including assault. The court heard he has made a payment of €1,000 to an animal welfare trust.

Additional evidence

Mr McGreal told the court that after the offence, his client received unsolicited messages from various organisations “associated with the right” offering to support his case by demonstrating outside the court.

Counsel said Jackson told them that “he did not want anything to do with these people”.

Mr McGreal said his client was not a man to be followed but “a person who followed”.

He said that after the incident, Jackson attended five times at an open mosque and met the imam there who he had discussions with about “radicalisation”. Counsel said his client also reached out to the Irish Network against Racism but they understandably declined to meet with him.

The court heard that after his arrest, Jackson expressed concern about the welfare of his dog.

He said that a psychological report indicated that Jackson's expressions of remorse were genuine and that “he does not have racist tendencies”. The report suggested that this offending stemmed from his wish to “impress” two other men involved.

He said Jackson has worked all his life and previously had a “very good job” in an IT company. He was also involved with the Order of Malta.

Counsel said the report set out that Jackson's views were “never hateful or violent”.