By Niamh Ellis
The High Court has refused an application to add the full transcript of a District Court hearing to an appeal concerning destruction orders made for three dogs owned by Veronica Maher.
The underlying case arose from complaints brought by Sergeant Michael Harkin under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. Dublin District Court made destruction orders for three XL Bully dogs after a hearing on May 28th, 2025.
The case stated records Garda evidence that on March 28th one XL Bully, later identified as Oddie, ran towards officers in a threatening manner, causing them to climb onto walls and bins. Maher disputed parts of that account. She said the dog had jumped over her garden wall rather than being deliberately released and denied shouting abuse at gardaí.
A later Garda search on April 3rd found three XL Bully dogs confined in heavy-duty cages. Maher told the District Court that the dogs were like her children and had never displayed behavioural problems. A friend, Kayleigh McEntee, also gave evidence supporting aspects of her account.
The District Judge found that one dog had chased gardaí, that the dogs were not adequately controlled and that all three presented a danger. Destruction orders followed.
The case was then stated to the High Court on two legal questions, including whether there had been adequate evidence to justify the orders. Sergeant Harkin subsequently sought to have the Digital Audio Recording transcript appended and the second question amended so that the High Court could consider the full evidence.
Mr Justice Dignam refused that request. He held that a full transcript is generally relevant only where a primary finding of fact is challenged on the basis that there was no evidence at all to support it. Here, the question instead concerned whether the evidence was adequate to support the District Judge's ultimate conclusions.
The judge also noted that the terms of the case stated had been agreed by the parties before being finalised. The ruling does not decide the substantive appeal over the destruction orders themselves.