Bird torturer ordered to ‘stay away from animals’ after allegedly snaring corellas

A bird torturer who previously tried to cook and eat an ibis has been issued a stern warning after he was charged with snaring two native birds with fishing wire.

A bird torturer who previously tried to cook and eat an ibis has been ordered to stay away from animals after he denied capturing two native birds with fishing wire and abusing them.

Police allege Tom Quach, 61, was seen using a fishing line to catch two long-billed corellas on Anzac Parade in Malabar, in Sydney’s east, about 5.30pm on Saturday.

According to witnesses who spoke with police, he allegedly snared the native birds and then enclosed them in a suitcase that he took to his house.

Police claim Quach forcefully shook the suitcase and injured the two birds, which are a protected species and not to be harmed.

Tom Quach is accused of snaring two native birds in fishing wire and stuffing them into a suitcase. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

The corellas were taken to a veterinarian in a stable condition and are being treated for their injuries.

Quach fronted Waverley Local Court on Monday in a red hoodie after spending the night in custody on remand.

Through his lawyer Kris O’Brien, he pleaded not guilty to committing an act of animal cruelty and harming a protected animal.

Mr O’Brien said his client maintained the corellas were entwined with fishing wire and fighting with each other when he found them.

“He denies he was committing any act of cruelty,” he said.

“His position is he was endeavouring to assist those two birds.”

The court was told Quach was unable to free the corellas from the fishing wire, so he decided it would be better to bring them to his nearby home.

Yet police prosecutor Rupert White argued that a number of witnesses claimed to have seen Quach capture the birds.

One distraught woman began filming Quach, but the court was told the birds were already entangled at that point.

He allegedly injured the birds, leaving them bloody. Picture: NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Quach has previously been jailed for animal cruelty. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Police allege Quach was feeding the birds bread, remnants of which were found in his possession alongside fishing wire.

Mr White noted Quach had served numerous terms of imprisonment for similar offending and argued there was a substantial risk he would commit further offences if granted bail.

Quach was jailed in 2023 for multiple counts of animal abuse after he slaughtered an ibis and hung it in his shower to dry before he cooked it.

At the time, he told police he liked to hunt the protected species when he was high on methamphetamine so he could cook and eat them.

Magistrate Stephen Barlow mused that Quach’s new charges contained a “highly unusual set of allegations”.

He said the corellas were allegedly found in a red animal carrier inside Quach’s house with blood on their mouths and in a state of distress.

“He does have priors for this sort of thing,” Mr Barlow said.

Quach allegedly captured two long-billed corellas.

The court was told Quach had a recent history of mental illness and recently underwent psychiatric testing.

Mr Barlow granted him bail under strict conditions, including that he report to police once a week and not have any animals in his possession.

“Stay away from animals,” he ordered Quach.

“If you touch animals, the police can arrest you and you might end up in prison.”

Quach will return to court next month.