CONVICTED (2023) | Michael Thorpe, born c. 1972, of The Hen House, 42 Sconce Road, Articlave, Coleraine BT51 4JT – caused distress and suffering to a hen.
AirBnB host Michael Thorpe was convicted of one charge of causing “avoidable pain, distress or suffering” to an animal, a hen, at the time of killing.
Thorpe, who hails from the French city of Lyon, was also convicted of one charge of engaging in the restraint, stunning or killing of an animal without having the knowledge or skill necessary to perform those operations “humanely and efficiently”.
Finally he was charged with failing to hold a carcass that had not been slaughtered for human consumption in such a manner as to ensure that any animal or bird would not have access to it.
Thorpe pleaded guilty, and the judge ordered him to pay a £450 fine in addition to a £15 offender levy.
I happen to know for a fact that while Michael does not dispute that he caused the hen 14 seconds of distress, his intention was solely to end its suffering and that in addition to this he recognises and regrets that he should have taken different steps to achieve this as he was ignorant of the fact that wringing the birds neck would not cause instant death.
These are facts that should also be reported and are certainly more pertinent to the report than the fact that he was born in Lyon, that he is a French national, especially when he is in fact a British national holding a British passport, or that he runs an Airbnb. Oh and lastly he was born in 1972, not 1952.
Like I say, he hasn’t denied what happened, but you should report the whole story, not just cherry pick the bits that suits you.