A man who burgled a north Dublin pet shop which resulted in over £444 worth of birds dying has been sentenced to three months in prison.
The birds died as a result of shock and from the cold as the doors of the pet shop were subsequently left open.
Sean Brady, 34, was arrested for the burglary after his blood was found at the scene, Swords District Court has heard.
Brady of Clonliffe Road in Drumcondra had pleaded guilty to the burglary at Kinsealy Pet Store on 24 October 2013.
Garda Killian Layden gave evidence that around 10.30pm the owner of the store, Aidan O'Connor became aware there was an intruder in the pet store.
Mr O'Connor saw a male fleeing from the aviary area and running towards a red BMW. Mr O'Connor struck the vehicle with a hatchet and he had to jump out of the way of the car.
Garda Layden agreed with defence counsel Patrick Jackson that Brady had met gardaí by appointment and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Mr Jackson said Brady, who has ten previous convictions, has a drug habit and tries to make money through illegal means.
Brady recently had a one year sentence of a three year suspended sentence re-activated at Trim Circuit Court for unlawful possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Judge Denis McLoughlin said there are consequences attached to committing an offence under a suspended sentence and sentenced him to three months in prison to run consecutively to the sentence Brady is currently serving.
He fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.
