Dublin vet faces fitness-to-practise inquiry after conviction over unlawful euthanasia of dogs

Darragh Mc Donagh

A fitness-to-practise inquiry regarding a Dublin veterinary surgeon has been scheduled to take place next month – almost two years after he was fined €12,500 for his role in the unlawful administration of euthanasia to two dogs in 2020.

Sydney Nagle, 67, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or permitting someone other than a vet to possess or control Dolethal – a barbiturate that is administered intravenously to euthanise animals.

The drug was given orally to two dogs at Ashton Dog Pound in Castleknock on the weekend of July 24th, 2020, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

One of the dogs died, while the other was humanely euthanised some days later.

Nagle’s conviction was part of a series of prosecutions relating to events at the dog pound.

The owner, David Stone, was fined €30,000 in 2023 for allowing dolethal to be unlawfully kept on the premises.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Nagle had sold around 30 bottles of Dolethal to Ashton Dog Pound between January 2019 and July 2020.

It was sold for €20 a bottle, and he was paid a monthly retainer of €800 by the pound to supply the drug.

He also admitted to four counts relating to his failure to keep records including batch numbers, serial numbers, sales and purchases of the drug, and his failure to retain these records for five years.

It was noted in court that the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) had commenced proceedings in relation to a fitness to practise inquiry concerning Nagle.

The VCI confirmed last weekend that the inquiry is now set to take place in Dublin on June 4th and 5th before its Fitness to Practise Committee, which will hear evidence before compiling a report.

If the committee finds that an allegation has been proven, it can recommend sanctions to the VCI ranging from the issuance of warnings, the imposition of conditions on a vet’s registration, or the removal of registration – preventing them from practising.

The VCI said it does not comment on fitness to practise investigations, but confirmed that it was aware of Nagle’s conviction of offences relating to possession and control of medicines and record keeping.

A spokeswoman also noted that Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had been informed at the time that Nagle was the subject of a fitness to practise investigation by the VCI.