‘Brutal attack’: prison sentence for Tasmanian man who fed live possum to dogs

A 35-year-old Tasmanian man who admitted to a sick act of cruelty involving a psossum has been sentenced to a jail term in the Hobart Magistrates Court. CONTENT WARNING

A Tasmanian man has been jailed after pleading guilty to crimes involving the abuse of a brushtail possum. Picture: David Caird

A 35-year-old Tasmanian man who admitted to throwing a freshly-trapped brushtail possum into the jaws of waiting dogs – in an act of animal cruelty recorded on video by another person – has been sentenced to a jail term in the Hobart Magistrates Court.

The decision was welcomed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, following what it described as “a significant statewide investigation” by wildlife rangers, in conjunction with Environment Tasmania, Tasmania Police, and Crime Stoppers.

Tristan Michael Donoghue faced Magistrate Chris Webster for sentence on Monday, after last month pleading guilty to taking partly protected wildlife contrary to the Nature Conservation Regulations, and releasing an animal from captivity for the purpose of being killed or injured.

The court heard that Donoghue had been working as a gardener at a Carlton River property in 2022, when the owner complained of a problem possum in the roof.

Prosecutors said that after successfully catching the adult marsupial in a baited trap, Donoghue opened one end of its cage and shook it upside down, “with two dogs excitedly waiting for possum to fall”.

A 37-second video played to the court showed the dogs mutilating the possum in a fatal attack prosecutors said would have caused unreasoned pain and suffering.

Prosecutors described Donoghue’s conduct as deliberate and intentional, saying the possum was particularly vulnerable given it was entirely under the control of the defendant, who was also in possession of two dogs.

Donoghue later told police “the dogs love to have fun and kill shit”, the court heard.

“The nature of his action was appalling, and the animal would have been terrified during the brutal attack,” prosecutors said.

Donoghue’s defence counsel told Magistrate Webster his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage, had co-operated with police during their investigation, and had been unable to bring himself to watch the video with police.

Until the time of the incident, Donoghue had viewed possums as vermin, having grown up with a father who shot the marsupials, and baited them with 1080 poison as part of forestry industry operations, his lawyer said.

As a self-described animal lover with numerous pets at home, Donoghue was genuinely remorseful for his actions, the court heard.

Magistrate Chris Webster convicted Donoghue, fined him $4000, and ordered he serve a three-month term of imprisonment to be served concurrently with a sentence he is already in custody for.

Welcoming the court’s decision, a spokesperson for NRE Tas said Tasmanians cherished the state’s diverse wildlife species, and the role they fulfil in making Tasmania a unique place to live and visit.

“This sentence sends a clear message that offences of this nature will not be tolerated and will be punished by the courts,” the spokesperson said.

Originally published as ‘Brutal attack’: prison sentence for Tasmanian man who fed live possum to dogs