Darren Jackson jailed for 15 months over Thornton Hall animal cruelty

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Darren Jackson was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to two counts of animal cruelty linked to protests against plans for asylum seeker accommodation at Thornton Hall. The court heard that he admitted driving four pigs from Cavan to the site in June 2024 and said an accomplice injured them. Two pigs with wounds were put down; two others were rehomed.

Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of two years, reduced to 15 months for substantial mitigating factors. The court heard Jackson had five previous convictions, including assault, and had paid €1,000 to an animal welfare trust.