Crufts winner’s parents asked if they can care for pitbull after €12,000 kennel bill
The elderly parents of a former Crufts Dog Show winner whose pitbull terrier attacked another dog are to be canvassed to see if they can take care of the animal, a court heard.
Michael Geoghegan’s dog was seized by the Fingal County Council dog warden after the animal attacked a woman’s dog in August 2024.
The dog has been in kennels ever since.
A garda told Balbriggan District Court that it is costing the State €680 a month to care for the dog, or over €12,000 since it was seized.
An application has been brought under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 claiming Geoghegan is incapable of taking care of animals.
Gardaí are seeking that the pitbull terrier be destroyed, saying the dog had attacked another dog, and they were not satisfied anyone else could take care of the animal.
They also said that Geoghegan (43) has not sought, at any stage, to have the dog returned to him.
Geoghegan said the dog “was not one bit vicious”.
Defence lawyer Annette Kealy said Geoghegan had some talent with animals, and in his youth he had won an award at Crufts for best dog handler.
Ms Kealy said that Geoghegan never sought to get the dog back because he thought the animal had already been put down.
The victim’s dog suffered serious injuries
Judge Shalom Binchy adjourned the case for two weeks, asking gardaí to see if Geoghegan’s parents could, or would, be willing to care for the dog.
Geoghegan, of Ormond View in Swords, was found guilty in September 2025 of having a dog, a black pitbull, that was not securely muzzled or under effectual control at Swords Manor in Swords on August 1, 2024.
Garda Niamh Owens said a woman told gardaí that she had been walking her dog in Swords Manor Park when it was attacked by a pitbull terrier.
Gda Owens said the victim’s dog suffered serious injuries, and the dog was taken to the vet for treatment.
Pictures of the dog’s injuries were handed into court.
Gda Owens said Geoghegan arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.
Gardaí later obtained a warrant, and the pitbull was seized after Geoghegan refused to surrender the dog.
The case had been adjourned to see if Geoghegan, who has 70 previous convictions, could pay compensation and provide evidence he was dealing with a drug problem.
No compensation was available and Judge Binchy imposed a two-month sentence.
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