A serial offender who butchered a young girl’s beloved pregnant pet sheep has been brought to justice — but outrage remains after he avoided a tougher animal cruelty charge.
Kieran Lawless, 28, of Tenacre, Kilrane, Co Wexford, appeared before the courts after he was found guilty of a brutal attack on Primrose, a cherished family pet.
On May 18, 2022, Lawless entered a private field armed with a 12-inch blade and chopped off one of Primrose’s legs in a shocking act of savagery.
Despite the horrific nature of the attack, Lawless was only prosecuted for criminal damage — not for animal cruelty — because he claimed the sheep was already dead when he dismembered her. This technicality in the law has left Primrose’s devastated owners and the public demanding urgent reform.
A Sickening Act that Sparked Outrage
Primrose had been in perfect health earlier that same day, grazing peacefully in her field before the gruesome attack.
The incident has provoked widespread disgust, with animal welfare groups calling for stricter legislation to prevent similar cases from being downgraded in the future.
In court, prosecutors described the attack as “disturbing, brutal, and deeply distressing,” and highlighted Lawless’s history of violent behaviour.
Public Demands Tougher Animal Welfare Laws
The case has triggered renewed calls for Ireland’s government to strengthen animal protection laws. Campaigners argue that offenders like Lawless should face serious animal cruelty charges regardless of claims about the animal’s condition before the attack.
An animal welfare spokesperson said:
“This was a grotesque attack on a defenceless animal — the fact that the law allowed him to be prosecuted only for criminal damage is an insult to Primrose’s memory and to her young owner.”
Serial Offender’s Troubled Past
Kieran Lawless has a history of run-ins with the law, including previous convictions for assault and public order offences. During sentencing, the judge expressed frustration that limitations in current legislation prevented harsher charges.
Lawless was handed a custodial sentence for criminal damage, but critics argue that this falls short of true justice for the family and for Primrose.
