The trial will continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott today.

The trial moves towards the midway point this week.

The dog was due to be taken to be destroyed following a decision by a District Court Judge earlier this year.

The two men were charged at Athlone Garda Station.

The fatal incident took place in June 2020.

Sentencing will take place in January.

Boy B, who is now 17, was sentenced to 15 years detention following the case in 2019.

The court heard that the digger was driven a short distance at around 2mph before being discovered at the rear of a property a few days later.