March 7, 2007 | Funny Bits

A Donkey's tale

An Irish community newspaper that published a fictitious story about a kinky donkey lover claims it had no idea the story would be taken at face value. But the Web version of the story took on a life of its own and was reprinted as fact on many blogs, another newspaper and numerous TV stations.

The Galway First story went like this:

A man who was found dressed in latex and handcuffs brought a donkey to his hotel room in Galway, Ireland, because he was advised "to get out and meet people."

Thomas Aloysius McCarney, from south Galway, was reported to have a fixation with the Shrek movies and even signed into the hotel as 'Mr Shrek'!

McCarney was charged with cruelty to animals, lewd and obscene behaviour, and with being a danger to himself when he appeared before a court.

He was also charged with damage to a mini-bar in the room, but this charge was later dropped when the defendant said that it was the donkey who caused that damage.

Solicitor for the accused, Ms Sharon Fitzhenry, said that her client had been through a difficult time lately and that his wife had left him and that his life had become increasingly lonely.

"Mr McCarney has been attending counselling at which he was told that he would be advised to get out and meet people and do interesting things," she said.

Mr McCarney had told hotel staff that the donkey was a family pet and that this was believed by the hotel receptionist.

Receptionist Irina Legova said that Mr McCarney had told her that the donkey was a breed of 'super rabbit' which he was bringing to a pet fair in the city.

The court was told that the donkey went berserk in the middle of the night and ran amok in the hotel corridor, forcing hotel staff to call the police. McCarney was found in the room wearing a latex suit and handcuffs, the key to which the donkey is believed to have swallowed.

He was fined 2,000 Euros for bringing the donkey to the room under the Unlawful Accommodation of Donkeys Act 1837.

The story was featured on the Galway Worst satirical pages on Galway First, but online readers took it at face value. It was run as a true story on the Metro in London as well as on reputable news sites and TV newscasts in the US and Germany.

• Urban myth mania as a million hits force our website off line [Galway First]
  
• A room for me and my ... donkey [Metro.co.uk]