Woman appears in court after huskies attack piglets

Thursday 06 April 2023

A woman who abused and assaulted Police while resisting arrest has been handed community service - she was also fined for failing to restrain her huskies when they attacked piglets in a separate incident.

Irena Tamara McElwee-Roman (47) was found guilty of two counts of failing to restrain her two dogs, which were off the lead when they ran off and attacked nine piglets, at a trial last month. That incident occurred on 25 April 2022.

She had pleaded guilty to failing to licence the dogs and the other charges relating to the arrest, which occurred on a separate date.

Crown Advocate Fiona Russell said the defendant contacted Police on 22 October 2022 requesting assistance with a domestic incident in Castel.

Four people, including the defendants husband, were at the property, but no incident had actually occurred. McElwee-Roman was said to have fallen out with everyone in the house. When Police arrived, she was at the property and refused to leave.

McElwee-Roman was arrested, but when an officer took her arm, she began to shout. Another officer attempted to help escort her out into the front garden where she continued to shout and swear.

Officers told her to get on the ground when she dug her fingernails into the hands of both officers. She also kicked out at one of the officers shins. She was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct. No permanent injuries were sustained.

At interview McElwee-Roman said she had become angry with the Police focusing on her rather than the alleged domestic incident, and that the officers were hurting her.

Pictured: McElwee-Roman admitted acting in a disorderly manner towards the arresting officers. 

Duty Advocate Sam Maindonald said the experience had been “triggering” for her client and that it was not her intention to harm the officers. She did not understand what the officers were attempting to do, it was added.

McElwee-Roman had lived abroad for several years and never kept dogs in Guernsey and was therefore unaware of the need for a dog licence, Advocate Maindonald said.

One dog had passed away, but she was committed to keeping the other dog on a lead. She maintained that their behaviour with the piglets was unusual as they were normally gentle with people and other animals.

Judge Graeme McKerrell said McElwee-Roman’s original defence for not controlling her dogs was “frankly ridiculous”.  

He also added that one “cannot go about abusing the Police or assaulting officers”.

Judge McKerrell ordered a total of 90 hours of community service for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assaulting the officer as a direct alternative to six weeks in prison.

He fined her a combined £600 for failing to restrain the dogs and £50 for failing to licence them, also as a direct alternative to custody. 

Compensation of £286.69 for the vet bills and £200 for the assaulted officer was ordered. McElwee-Roman must also keep her dog on a lead of no more than 30ft when not in a secure area.