Sentencing has been adjourned for two weeks for a man (37) who pleaded guilty at Killarney District Court yesterday to hunting and killing a protected red deer stag near Killarney without a licence.
Richard Cullinane (above) of Lisnacon, Kanturk, Co Cork was traced after the front quarters of the deer were taken to a Killarney taxidermist to be stuffed and mounted, the court was told by Timothy Burkitt, an officer with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Mr Burkitt said he received a phone call on November 7th, 2011, tipping him off that a red stag had been shot and killed in a field near Loo Bridge, Glenflesk.
He arrived and found the animal had been cut in half and the hind quarters left lying in the field. “DNA samples were taken from the fore and hind quarters of the animal and sent for analysis, the samples matched and it was traced back to Mr Cullinane,” Mr Burkitt said.
He said Cullinane was questioned and admitted he had shot the deer.
The court heard the maximum fine is €500 or three months in prison. Judge James O’Connor adjourned the case for decision on the penalty to September 17th.