Donal Moroney fined €500 over euthanasia drug at Ashton Dog Pound

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

Former Ashton Dog Pound manager Donal Moroney was fined €500 in July 2024 for allowing the euthanasia drug Dolethal to be stored at the pound and administered unlawfully to two dogs. The proceedings were reported on 1 August 2024.

The report said Dolethal, which contains pentobarbital sodium, may be stored only at a veterinary practice and administered intravenously by a vet. It said two dogs were given the drug orally over the weekend of 24 July 2020. One died and the other was humanely euthanised some days later.

At Dublin District Court on 26 November 2021, Moroney and five others were sent forward for trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Moroney was accused of permitting a layperson to kill and cause unnecessary suffering to a Bichon Frise, and of offences concerning the alleged oral administration of a controlled drug to an Akita on 24 July 2020.

He was also accused of obstructing the investigating garda on 28 July 2020 by failing to comply with a direction not to move the Akita from its kennel, and of failing to get immediate veterinary attention for the dog after being directed to do so. His remaining charges concerned alleged breaches of animal remedies regulations.

At the 2021 hearing, the report said the defendants had not indicated how they would plead. Moroney’s solicitor, Danica Kinane, said he would fully contest the charges.