A man accused of trespassing at a veterinary surgery and stealing a bag containing the remains of a dead dog which he allegedly mistook for meat he intended to sell has been remanded on continuing bail until December.

Derek Hyland, 47, of Pinewoods in Clondalkin, is alleged to have committed the offence on July 23 at Village Vets in Kilmainham, Dublin 8. He is charged with entering a part of a building known as Village Vets Kilmainham, St James Street, Dublin 8 as a trespasser and charged with committing an arrestable offence, to wit theft, therein contrary to Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Judge Valerie Corcoran heard at Dublin District Court on Thursday that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed summary disposal of the case, which means it can stay at district court level, where if convicted, the penalties are less than those imposed at circuit court level.

Outlining the alleged facts of the case, Sergeant Derek Spain said: “It is alleged that on July 23, the accused entered the Village Vets in Kilmainham at around 8pm. It’s alleged the accused removed the remains of a dog that was in a bag in a freezer.

“The accused was identified by Gardaí and observed later in possession of the remains of the dead dog. It’s alleged under caution he told Gardaí he believed the contents of the bag contained meat that he wanted to sell on.”

On hearing the alleged facts of the case, the judge accepted jurisdiction to hear the case at district court level. The accused’s solicitor Aoife Dalton requested a precis of the evidence, as well as any CCTV and statements.

The judge granted the order and remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear before the court again in December for election, plea and a date for the hearing of the case.

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