Newport, County Tipperary – In a legal pursuit by the Irish Game Protection Association, James Ryan of Clonaloagh and Michael Cusack of Ballinacurra faced charges for shooting rabbits and pheasants on the lands of Clonaloagh on Sunday, the 7th of November last. The prosecution alleged a violation of the Statute 27.

The courtroom, presided over during the Petty Sessions, saw Mr Henry Shannon, solicitor from Nenagh, representing the Game Association. On the defence side, Mr Edward Coffey, solicitor from Limerick, stood supporting the accused.

Sergeant O’Donnell, K.I.C., and John Owens, the gamekeeper, took the stand to testify. They recounted witnessing James Ryan, accompanied by Cusack, engaging in the shooting of rabbits and pheasants. Despite the prosecution’s efforts, the Bench declined to convict Ryan due to a lack of evidence directly connecting him to the handling of the rabbits, the gun, or the pheasants.

However, Michael Cusack was not as fortunate. The Bench imposed a fine on Cusack, a penalty that was subsequently reduced upon the application of Major Kingscote, the owner of the shooting rights. The legal proceedings brought attention to the complexities surrounding game protection regulations, highlighting the fine line between lawful and unlawful activities in the realm of hunting and shooting.

Dublin Daily Express – Monday 14 February 1910