Puppy has to be put down after being kicked “like a football” down Castletown Road

The puppy that had to be put down. Picture: Healthy Pets

A local animal rights group have condemned an incident on the Castletown Road which saw four schoolboys kick a puppy around like a football.

The tiny dog sustained injuries so severe in the incident that it had to be put down.

The incident occurred on Friday morning when four schoolboys were spotted kicking the brown puppy down the Castletown Road.

A man had to intervene before taking the injured canine to local vet Anna Pietrzyk at the nearby Healthy Pets practice on the Ard Easmuinn Road.

Anna told today’s Irish Daily Mirror that the pup was “in quite a bad condition” when it was taken to her around 10am.

The dog, which appeared to be a Chihuahua cross and described as being about six weeks of age, was coughing up blood and appeared to be belleding into her lungs.

Despite Anna’s best efforts, she had no choice but to put the dog down.

Reacting to the news, Fiona Squibb of the Louth SPCA told the Mirror: “I absolutely and utterly condemn what they did and what makes it more troubling is that it appears they were schoolchildren.

“To see the state that puppy was left in, struggling to breath and screaming in pain. The screams of pain were just horrendous.”

The matter has been reported to Gardaí and efforts are underway to locate the owner of the puppy.

Read the full story here on The Irish Daily Mirror website.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service in Dundalk this week

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday November 4^th and Wednesday November 5^th from 5pm to 8.30pm for anyone who would like to donate blood.

Donors can also visit the Clan na Gael GFC clubrooms on the Ard Easmuinn Road to donate on Thursday November 6^th from 5pm to 8.30pm.

Blood donor clinic in Dundalk next week

The blood donor clinic will be in Dundalk next week from Tuesday to Thursday.

It will be located in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday July 15th and 16th from 5pm to 8.30pm each day.

It will also be in the Clan na Gael GAA centre on the Ard Easmuinn Road on Thursday July 17th from 5pm to 8.30pm.

Blood supplies are an essential part of our health service and everyone is asked to give regularly. Further further information visit www.giveblood.ie

National Ambulance Service releases statement regarding availability of service at time of death of Conor Byrne

Conor Byrne RIP

The National Ambulance Service has released a statement regarding the availability of ambulances in Dundalk on Tuesday afternoon.

Sinn Féin had claimed there were inadequate resources in the area at the time that 18-year-old Conor Byrne fell ill at his home at Marian Park.

The Dundalk IT student, who suffered a suspected heart attack, had to be airlifted to hospital in Dublin via an army helicopter which landed at the Clan na Gael GFC pitch on the Ard Easmuinn Road.

Unfortunately, he could not be resuscitated by the time he reached the hospital, sparking concerns over ambulance response times in the area.

However, the National Ambulance Service insists that two ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the emergency call.

It said in a statement that it received an emergency call at 1.12pm and the nearest available ambulance was dispatched.

They said the ambulance controller gave medical assistance via telephone, with the decision taken to immediate dispatch a second ambulance and to request Dundalk Fire Service to provide assistance.

They further added it was decided to dispatch the Emergency Aeromedical Service to the incident due to the patient’s critical condition.

Conor, who is survived by his heartbroken parents David and Marguerite, brothers David and Kevin, sisters Aoife and Clare, nephew Shay and extended family and friends, will be reposing at his family home from 12 noon today.

There will be a celebration of his life at Dixon’s Funeral Home at 2pm on Saturday followed by removal to Fatima Cemetery for burial.

Prominent Dundalk site goes on the market for €200,000

The site on the Ecco Road

A prominent 6.5 acre site in Dundalk has gone on the market with local estate agents Sherry FitzGerald Carroll for €200,000.

The site at the Ecco Road is located opposite Dunnes Stores in Ard Easmuinn and is approximately 1.5km west of the town centre.

The lands are described as extending to 6.5 acres/2.63 hectares and are contained in one block. A portion of the land, which benefits from extensive frontage to the Ard Easmuinn Road, was formerly in use as a car park with the balance of the lands undeveloped in grass.

The lands are presently zoned Retail, Leisure, Recreation and Community in the Dundalk and Environs Development Plan 2009-2015 and are more recently designated as a “Priority Regeneration Area” within Variation No.1 of the Development Plan.

Further details can be obtained by contacting Sherry FitzGerald Carroll on 042 9332173.