Case Snapshot
Case ID: 13837
Classification: Hanging, Neglect / Abandonment, Theft
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Sunday, Apr 1, 2007


Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Barry Patrick Rochford

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Bendigo detectives have charged a Bendigo business executive in connection with a spate of dog cruelty matters in the central Victoria region.

Barry Patrick Rochford, 47, of Nankervis Road, Mandurang was arrested by police on June 4, 2008 and taken into custody for questioning before being formally charged.

Rochford is facing 13 charges, including two counts of theft relating to five Irish wolfhounds allegedly stolen from properties at Neilborough and Buninyong in April 2007 and November 2007, one count of arson, six counts of animal cruelty, two counts of wilful trespass, one count of obtain property by deception and one charge relating to the alleged possession of articles for criminal damage.

One of the Irish wolfhounds allegedly stolen was found tied to a tree in isolated forest near Lake Eppalock, south east of Bendigo on Christmas Day last year. The animal had earlier been tethered in a way that prevented it from moving, leaving it to die a slow and agonising death in cruel circumstances.

Rochford appeared briefly before a bail justice in an out of sessions hearing at the Bendigo police station just before 7pm last night.

His application for bail was refused, and he was remanded to appear in the Bendigo Magistrates Court today.

Rochford previously worked as the Bendigo Bank's general manager for continuous improvement, as the chief executive of Bendigo Radiology and currently runs his own financial services company, Barry Rochford and Associates.

He has also worked in the local government sector, including senior roles at councils in Castlemaine and Wangaratta, and then as chief executive officer at Nillumbik Shire Council.


Case Updates

A central Victorian man charged with animal cruelty has had his bail extended.

Barry Patrick Rochford, 47, of Mandurang, is charged with 20 offences, including knowingly causing unnecessary pain to an animal, criminal damage and possessing an imitation handgun.

Police allege in August last year he killed or caused suffering to several dogs in the Mandurang area, south of Bendigo.

He appeared briefly in the Bendigo Magistrates Court this morning.

Magistrate Bruce Cottrill extended his bail until his next court appearance on September 17 for a committal mention hearing.

The defence for Rochford indicated that he wants the case to go to trial.
Source: ABC - Aug 28, 2008
Update posted on Aug 29, 2008 - 10:24PM 
On Thursday, Bendigo Magistrates Court heard that Rochford -- a former bank executive and shire council chief executive - had beaten 11 dogs to death, nine of them puppies. It's also alleged he tied up two other dogs in such a way as to cause their own strangulation, including the Irish wolfhound found at Eppalock Lake. The other, also a wolfhound, was tied to a haystack.

The court also heard that Rochford had stolen five Irish wolfhounds from two people against whom he was allegedly seeking vengeance. In total, the wolfhounds were worth $12,000. Rochford is alleged to have sold two to a breeder and kept the others.

Rochford was formerly Bendigo Bank's general manager for continuous improvement, and held executive positions in local government for 17 years.

Ten years ago he was the chief executive officer of Nillumbik Shire Council when it was controversially sacked by the State Government for failing to provide good governance. In 1998, Rochford was named in State Parliament as being "obsessed with his personal position to the detriment of the organisation as a whole".

He resigned as chief executive at the Nillumbik council after losing a Supreme Court injunction to stop councillors conducting a performance review.

He now runs his own financial services company.

On Thursday, Rochford was ordered to face 13 charges including six counts of animal cruelty causing death, unreasonable pain and suffering, two counts of theft, one count of arson, two counts of trespass, one count of obtaining property by deception and one count relating to possession of fuel for criminal damage. Rochford was released on conditional bail and ordered to appear again in court on July 17.

On May 23, Rochford was charged with three counts of arson and four firearm offences. Police allege that Rochford, on April 6, set fire to a haystack owned by the Mandurang Country Fire Authority brigade captain Graeme Pearce - and that on April 11 he also torched Mr Pearce's tractor.

He was also charged with committing arson at another Mandurang property on April 18.

Mr Rochford applied for a continuation of a suppression order that was granted by Bendigo Magistrates Court following his arrest on the arson and firearms charges. That suppression order has since been partly lifted.
Source: TheAge - June 8, 2008
Update posted on Jun 8, 2008 - 8:09PM 

References

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