A Dublin man has been jailed for 4 months for throwing a rabbit belonging to a homeless man into the River Liffey.

20-year-old Gary Kearney with an address at Conyngham Road in Crumlin pleaded guilty to cruelly torturing or terrifying an animal.

John Byrne who has lived on the streets for the past 23 years had to be rescued when he jumped into the river to save his pet rabbit 'Barney' in July last year.

The pet and his owner were subsequently rescued with the help of the Dublin Fire Brigade.

A Faceboook page was also set up about the incident.

The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) subsequently presented Mr. Byrne with their 'Compassionate Citizen Award' for risking his life to save the rabbit.

Watch footage of the original rescue below: