A LISBURN man has admitted kicking his 15-week-old puppy to death.
Standing in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court, 24-year-old Marcus Sarre entered a guilty plea to a single count of causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy on April 14 this year.
Sarre, with an address in Lisburn, caused unnecessary suffering to the German Shepherd type pup known as Lilo.
None of the surrounding facts were opened in court today but when Sarre first appeared last April, a police officer gave evidence that "he has kicked the dog and it's died, that's the long and short of it".
The constable told the court that Sarre had made full admissions during interviews.
Defence counsel Damien Halleron told an earlier court hearing that Sarre had consumed substances, was angry and struck the dog adding "he didn't mean to harm or kill the dog".
He submitted, however, the incident happened "in circumstances of his mental health" and a psychiatric assessment was to be carried out as soon as possible.
In court, Mr Halleron asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow probation to compose a pre-sentence report and for Sarre to be granted bail in the meantime.
Granting both applications, Judge Patrick Lynch QC said he would pass sentence on November 8.
