Man accused of stabbing two pigs ordered to stay away from International Protection Accommodation sites

A man charged in connection with stabbing two pigs at a property earmarked for international protection applicants has been ordered to stay away from all International Protection Accommodation sites.

Darren Jackson, 39, of Rivermeade Drive, Rivermeade in Co Dublin appeared before Balbriggan District Court on Tuesday morning charged with three offences.

He is charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to or endangering the health and welfare of the animals (namely two pigs) at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, north county Dublin on June 26, 2024.

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Those offences are contrary to Section 12 (1) and (2) and Section 52 (2) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

Mr Jackson is further charged with stealing a set of keys to a portable lighting generator of IGO Emergency Management Services at Thornton Hall on the day before, on June 25, 2024. That offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001.

Garda Philip Walsh of Swords Garda Station told Judge Dermot Dempsey he charged the accused before the court and handed him a true copy of the charge sheets.

Gda Walsh said the accused made ‘no reply’ after caution. He said there is consent for the accused to be remanded on bail subject to certain conditions, which defence solicitor Fiona D’Arcy said the accused is agreeable to.

Those conditions include signing on at Swords Garda Station twice a week; notify gardai of a change of residential address and to stay away from all International Protection Accommodation sites.

Gda Walsh told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment in the circuit court. The DPP has also directed the accused be sent forward to the circuit court on a signed plea for sentencing should that arise.

Ms D’Arcy requested preliminary disclosure which was granted. Legal aid was also granted. Judge Dempsey remanded the accused on his own bond of €500 to appear before Balbriggan District Court on Tuesday, January 28.

When asked by the judge if he understood the terms of his bond and the bail conditions, the accused, dressed in a white shirt and navy jeans, replied: “Yes judge.”

In a statement issued last June, Gardai stated they were called to Thornton Hall on Wednesday evening, June 26, 2024 at around 5.30pm.

It is alleged two injured pigs were discovered at the location and attended to by a vet and were subsequently euthanised. It is understood a third pig unharmed was taken into care.

It was announced earlier last year that part of the 156 acre site at Thornton Hall, owned by the Department of Justice, would be utilised for “emergency-style” tents due to the ongoing accommodation crisis to house up to 1,000 male asylum seekers.

In August 2024, the Department of Integration put in place a Ministerial Order to provide a planning exemption for works at the site and initial works commenced. However, in October a Judicial Review was brought by representatives of local residents into the procedures that were applied in developing the Ministerial Order and this led to any further works on the site being paused.

The Department decided to set aside the Ministerial Order in November 2024 and to undertake some administrative updates and develop a replacement order for this site.

"That process is underway and works at the Thornton Hall site will remain paused while this is completed," a spokesperson for the Department of Integration.

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