By TOM SHIEL

Marauding dogs are being blamed for the untimely death of the cockerel. The bird's owner, Mrs. Moira Gallagher, went to jail for three weeks last year because of her refusal to get rid of it and build a boundary wall with her neighbour.

Her jailing provoked a national outcry and the case received international media attention. Mrs. Gallagher had to apologise to Judge Harvey Kenny in order to purge her contempt. She is well known as a determined individual who has won recognition locally for her arm-wrestling abilities.

The 62 year old mother of three, eventually won the right to keep the cockerel but she conceded that work on a dividing wall should proceed. At a recent sitting of Westport Circuit Court a document, agreeing to settlement terms, was handed to Judge Kenny.

Progress on the building of the new boundary wall will be reviewed at the next sitting of Westport Circuit Court in March.

Mrs. Gallagher, who was refused free legal aid, will have to bear her costs of the continued court action.

She is said to be devastated by the loss of her rooster which was dubbed "Caileach" by the media.

She has a number of other pet fowl as well as dogs and chickens which are housed in sheds behind her home at St Fionnan's Road, Achill Sound.