Foxes have a right to life: judge
A judge has ordered the forfeiture of a shotgun from a 38-year-old man who smashed a window in a nearby house while trying to shoot a magpie at 3 o'clock in the morning.
Michael Loftus from Lavallyroe, Cloonfad, Co Roscommon, pleaded guilty to the charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo on December 3rd last and was also fined £100 by Judge Mary Fahy.
The defendant, who was the member of a gun club, had been out lamping foxes (stunning them with a light before shooting them) when he spotted the magpie and decided to take aim. He accepted it was wrong to do so from a public road near a house and apologised to the owner. Judge Fahy said magpies and foxes were part of the local habitat and entitled to an existence.
The court was also told that Mr Loftus had previous convictions for hoax phone calls, criminal damage and a breach of the Firearms Act.
Stating that a firearm was not a suitable possession for somebody with a conviction for criminal damage, Judge Fahy ordered its forfeiture.
The Irish Independent, September 21st, 2000
