by Linda Straker
- Donal Kavanaugh and Sarah Hutton charged with causing harm to Evan Smith
- Smith accidentally killed a dog belonging to them
- Couple to make an appearance at St George’s Magistrate Court on 28 July 2020
Vannie Curwen, Head of the RGPF Community Relations Department is urging the public to allow legal due process to be the guiding principles in the matter in which a couple from Ireland physically assault a Grenadian national after he accidentally killed a dog belonging to them.
“I want to urge the public when we talk about justice we are talking about due process, and due process must have its place in this particular matter. Due process must require a thorough investigation, charges being laid and people having their day in court, and people having a fair trial,” Curwen said in a news conference on Monday, 29 June 2020.
The police announced in the news conference that the couple, Donal Kavanaugh and Sarah Hutton, was charged with causing harm to Evan Smith – the driver of the vehicle that killed the dog. The couple operates a sea safety business at one of the island’s marinas, and was placed on EC$10,000 bail with one surety.
“So, when we saying we want justice it is an indication there is no justice but is only 3 days ago this matter has happened, and we have already moved speedily to have 2 persons arrested and we are continuing to investigate,” Curwen said.
“This is not a matter that is being swept under the rug or sides are being taken for any reason. We have done what we have done as a professional organisation over the years and we will continue to do that,” Curwen said in his closing statement. “I assure the public that please give us an opportunity to thoroughly investigate this matter and to bring charges where charges need to be laid, and that everyone involved who have violated some sort of rules, some sort of regulations, will have an opportunity in court to defend their side of the story. I urged, and continue to urge for calm.”
Acting Commissioner of Police, Edvin Martin, said that the matter continues to be under investigation. He explained that the initial call to the police was a report of a traffic accident but it was upon arrival at the scene that the officers realised the nature of the allegation.
Last Saturday, hundreds of Grenadians protested in the area where the dog was accidentally killed and where Smith was beaten. An eyewitness said that after the dog was killed, the Irish couple and their 2 minor age children physically assaulted Smith, leaving him with visible signs of abuse.
Smith’s wife is claiming that the police on the scene informed them that the matter can only be heard in a civil court. It was that information that caused the protest, during which, the main chant was “we want justice.”
The couple was charged on Sunday, and is set to make an appearance at the St George’s Magistrate Court on 28 July 2020. Causing harm carries a maximum fine of EC$3,000 and imprisonment of 12 months.
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The dog was on the edge of private construction ground playing with a little girl. The idiot that ran it over and killed it was speeding. Then he did not have any decency in him to stop. When stopped he atill tried to flee. Then his fog horn of an abisive wife turned up and assaulted everybody. Then she made a whole load of nasty threats which she has carried out.
As a foreigner we need to distinguish the facts from the fear. Let us not miss the main point here. A man named Evan Smith, recovering from a stroke, also under the special needs Educational service due to some subnormal functioning, accidentally hit a dog in the Fort Jeudy area. The Kavanaugh family has a construction site there but actually lives in Egmont. There dog was unleashed (According to law of the land here in Grenada and I am sure in many other countries, all dogs in public places must be on a leash, therefore, this law has been broken at the start). I understand the hurt and grief one feels when you lost a beloved pet. However, we are expected as adults whether white or black, to behave in a civil manner and manage conflicts responsibly. While Mr kavanaugh felt hurt and distraught about his dog, when he took it upon himself to strike Mr. Evan Smith, he broke a second law. He may have had better recourse by being diplomatic and managing their rage and anger about their beloved pet by allowing due process. He did not have to stop the driver. All he had to do if Evan Smith refused to wait, is take photos of the number plate and the scene or at least write it down on paper and report it to the police. Notwithstanding the fact that since the dog was accidentally killed while unleashed, the Kavanaugh’s do not have much of a case. As a matter of fact, they actually can be further charged for allowing their dog to run loose in a public space. We need to answer this question- what if one of us (white or black or our child ) was walking in that road and the dog ran after us the same way as it ran after the vehicle but instead, bit that individual? These laws came into force due to countless dog attacks that has actually caused death of individuals and other serious mauling incidents. Liisten, anyone in this free Island has rights and protections but you can never say that everyone have a right to cause bodily damage if your dog was accidentally hit. We expect grown people to behave responsibly. I always tell my boys, keep away from fights and I use a mantra, ‘It is OK to have strong emotions when you are hurt but it is also important to have strong command of them.
It is so depressingly oppressive that actions that in the past that were commonly attributed to ignorance and/or unreasonableness are now immediately regarded as Racism. What if Smith was White and/or the dog owners were Black, would seemingly every Grenadian be still shouting racism? Give me a break! I truly despair that this madness has now overcome Grenada.
I was raised in Grenada until the.age of 19 migrated to Canada for almost 40 yrs the things I faced living here on a constant basis has saddened me but always know I have my home to return to with no fear but this situation makes me wonder whiere is better because I returned home and stayed for three years and for some of the issues I faced with the police on a personal level is dirty and sad. I had to returned to Canada one year ago. Look what we are faced with recently it’s damn hard to think that the people in authority let this incident come to this instead of exercising proper judgement. No one should be left to feel they have to take the law into their hands like I had to to let the police know you are serious. This is NA behavior not my country so therefore I stand with you in this fight for justice don’t back down.
NO ONE has the right to take matters into their own hands…that is why laws exist…WE all are supposed to follow the law. The Kavanagh family was totally out of line for Assaulting Evan Smith a Grenadian citizen..the notion that this should be treated as a civil matter was just BS since they are White business owners in Grenada. If the dog was such an important member of the family..should have kept better watch and this would not have happened. Had this been in reverse somebody would have been in custody the same day. I’m pretty sure this would not stand in there home country so why should it stand in Grenada. Send them home as there is obviously a lack of respect for Grenadians by this family.. No need to respect/patronize persons that don’t respect the island. STAND UP GRENADA!!
We as Grenadian can not allow such outrageous abuse to take place in our country over a damn dog. We will not be allowed to do that in their country. Law or no law once one get away with it then only a matter of time before the rest think they can treat us as they wish . I say put a stop to it now an eye for an eye. This is not coward American who walk the streets with no voice we will die for our rights
I quite agree Pat. The bloke that ran the dog over should pay the price for its murder. Jail him I say! Especially as the dog was black.
Are you serious? If the dog meant so much to them they should have invested in a leash. Their dog should not be running out into the street. A dog’s life is more valuable than a humans? It’s owners want to behave like animals, the victim should take them to the cleaners!!