CONVICTED (2024) | Eugene Meenaghan, born 10 February 2001, of 43 Crabgate Lane, Skellow, Doncaster DN6 8LE, Joseph Murtagh, born December 2001, from Woodlands, Doncaster, Jay Poole born 2 April 2004, of 3 The Circuit, Woodlands, Doncaster DN6 7TE, and Jake Reidy, born 23 May 2005, of 58 Princess Avenue, Stainforth, Doncaster DN7 5QY – for the possession of hare coursing equipment and destroying a farmer’s field.
The four men, who are all prolific wildlife persecutors, travelled from Doncaster to the hamlet of Apley, near Wragby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in the early hours of 1 October 2023. They then drove through a farmer’s field, damaging the land and destroying crops, before attempting to leave the area.
Eugene Meenaghan
The crime was reported to Lincolnshire Police and patrolling officers from Spec Ops quickly identified the vehicle and stopped the group near Burton Waters.
Officers found longdogs and equipment such as lamps – used in lamping to stun wild animals before dogs are set loose.
They were arrested and subsequently videos of animal fights were found on their phones.
Jake Reidy
All four men were charged with being equipped to hare course, breach of section nine of the animal welfare act and criminal damage. They pleaded guilty to these charges.
Jay Poole with father Craig Poole
On Thursday 25 April 2024 officials at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court told the group to pay out a combined total of £19,791.72 in costs and compensation.
Eugene Meenaghan will pay £5,262,93. Joseph Murtagh will pay £4,842.93. Jay Poole will pay £4,842.93. Jake Reidy will pay £4,842.93.
Magistrates described the crimes as ‘cruel and despicable’ and said the events of that night had ‘caused great distress’.
Joe Murtagh
This result comes after a lengthy police investigation and PC Karen Irving, who works for the rural crime action team, insists this behaviour won’t be tolerated.
She said: “We are determined to make Lincolnshire the safest place to live, work and visit. This result shows we will use all avenues available to us to bring people to justice and protect our communities and wildlife.
Sentencing | costs and compensation; 10-year criminal behaviour order not to enter Lincolnshire with longdogs; 100 hours of community service. Forfeiture of mobile phones and lamping equipment. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years..
CONVICTED (2024) | Richard Robin Orton, born 27 September 1985, of Westland Road, Compton, Wolverhampton WV3 9NY – trapped wild birds and kept them in squalid conditions in his garden.
Prolific wildlife persecutor Orton used Larsen traps in his back garden to ‘trap and kill magpies’.
RSPCA inspectors visited Orton’s home after being contacted by members of the public with concerns about the welfare of birds kept in traps in his garden and found two magpies in shocking conditions.
One was housed within a wire cage with access to only half of the cage. There was only a small amount of ‘very dirty water’ present and no food the bird could access.
There was a ‘significant amount of faeces’ within the cage and it was ‘extremely foul smelling’.
In the section of the cage the bird could not access, there was what looked like a piece of rabbit skin present. The bird was in ‘poor physical condition with the breast bone prominent and muscle loss’.
The second magpie, which a vet concluded was ‘even thinner than the first’ with no fat covering and a loss of muscle, was housed within a wood and chicken wire cage with access to only half of the cage.
There was some dirty water present, which was green in colour, and there was no food present in the area of the cage the bird could access. Again, there was a ‘significant amount of faeces within the cage and it was extremely foul smelling’.
A vet’s report said: “Both birds would have suffered unnecessarily for a minimum of two weeks but in reality likely longer. They did not have their welfare needs met due to the failure to provide an appropriate environment.
“From the amount of faeces observed within the traps, it is my opinion that no cleaning or removal of droppings had occurred within the previous four weeks, but likely a considerably longer period of time. It must be stressful and distressing to-be-living-in-the-same area as you pass faeces with no-way to remove yourself from these conditions.”
RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones, who investigated Romany gypsy Orton, said: “Every year the RSPCA receives many calls from the public concerned about the use of Larsen traps to capture wild birds.
“Larsen traps can be made of wood or metal and contain two or three compartments to allow the use of a live decoy bird, like a magpie, to attract other magpies in defence of their territory.
“Although such traps are legal, strict controls relate to their use. If these are breached – and it is easy to do so – the trap setter loses the legal protection of a general licence for trapping and killing magpies and could face being prosecuted.”
He continued: “People who trap magpies could leave themselves open to prosecution should they infringe any one of a number of strict conditions relating to the use of Larsen traps. Trap setters have to provide the decoy bird with food, water, shelter and a perch and inspect the trap every 24 hours.
“Sadly there is great potential for suffering of wild birds in being contained in cramped, unsuitable spaces, as we’ve seen here with the two birds found in Orton’s possession.”
Following his conviction under the Animal Welfare Act, Orton, who is originally from Tipton and has links to Rowley Regis, can no longer use Natural England’s general licences.
The magpies were both released back into the wild.
Sentencing | ordered to pay £312. Banned from keeping birds and ferrets for five years (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Bogdan Gruia (aka Bogdan Gruya), born 28 June 1990, of 178 Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe DN15 7NN – part of a group of men that stole a pregnant ewe from a farm, slit her throat and left her to bleed to death.
Roma gypsy Gruia, who came to the UK from Craiova in Romania, indicated a plea of guilty to aiding and abetting “a person unknown” to cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by cutting her throat and leaving her to bleed to death.
The remains of the sheep and her unborn lambs were found in an alleyway near premises in the control of Gruia, a garage owner who gave the court an alternative address of Digby Street in, Scunthorpe
The sheep had been stolen from a farm near Epworth, and subsequently slaughtered in an inhumane manner.
Gruia was found not guilty of handling stolen goods.
Three other suspects are still being sought by Humberside Police who have released images of them.
Speaking after Gruia’s conviction, PC Grant of Humberside Police’s Rural Task Force said: “This is the first conviction for an incident relating to the theft of sheep in the North Lincolnshire area since it became a local problem in 2018.
“Operation Bo Peep has been running since 2021 to tackle this issue and has, over the last three years, reduced sheep theft by 80%.
“I hope this conviction gives the farming community confidence that the police take this matter seriously and will bring offenders to justice.
“Three suspects for this incident are still outstanding, so I appeal to the public again to identify them.
“Anyone who believes they can identify the outstanding suspects can call Humberside Police on 101 and quote investigation reference 22901960470. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Sentencing | fined £769, ordered to pay a £308 victim services surcharge and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
CONVICTED (2024) | wildlife killers Thomas Graham Michael Lloyd, born 28 December 1986, of Slaidburn Drive, Lancaster LA1 4QX; Jay Stuart Jones born 5 March 1987, of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster LA1 2PP; and Steven Dixon, born 9 November 1983 of 63 Keswick Road, Lancaster LA1 3LF – for sadistic cruelty towards multiple deer and at least one badger.
Tom Lloyd (left) and Jay Jones were both sent to prison for serious wildlife offences
The sadistic trio were all convicted of a range of wildlife offences, including cutting a deer’s throat and restraining a deer to enable dogs to attack it.
Tom Lloyd was the ringleader of the sick gang of criminals
Tom Lloyd pleaded guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to deer and a badger, with videos showing the deer’s neck being stood on to enable dogs to attack the animal, and the deer’s throat being cut repeatedly. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for life.
Jay Jones pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by restraining the animal to allow dogs to attack it. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for six years.
Steven Dixon pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by repeatedly cutting its throat. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison which was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, a six-month mental health programme and 100 hours of unpaid work.
One man was caught on camera slashing a terrified deer’s throatOther videos showed dogs being set upon a badger and a deer
In February 2022, Lancashire Police seized a mobile phone from Jay Jones which revealed videos showing wildlife offences and the RSPCA were called to assist.
The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) worked with police who executed warrants at premises occupied by all three defendants in May 2022.
Two dogs of the four seized from backyard breeders Tom Lloyd and Jay Jones were pregnant
Four dogs were seized: a black lurcher called Hector and a tan and white lurcher, called Chanelle from Lloyd; and a dark brindle lurcher, called Blaze, and a grey merle lurcher, called Dixie, from Jones.
Dixie and Chanelle were both pregnant and had puppies in the RSPCA’s care.
A number of videos showed the cruelty inflicted on deer and a badger.
A written statement, presented to the court in an expert witness report said: “The videos presented have been produced in darkness with the use of a lamp to illuminate the activity of a number of lurcher type dogs pursuing and attacking deer and a badger.
“Two videos indicate a male person to have repeatedly stabbed and cut the skin of the animal’s neck causing further suffering via the mechanism of pain while already being attacked by dogs.”
In one of the videos, Lloyd, who is filming, says: ‘Here we are lads, got a stag’, and shows a deer that has been caught being attacked by dogs.
Later in the video, one of the men can be seen holding the deer’s head while he cuts its throat with a knife.
RSPCA SOU officer Jason Bowles, who led the investigation, said, after sentencing: “We investigate some horrific cases and, sadly, see animals suffering truly gruesome acts at the hands of people.
“The videos in this case are yet another example of the barbaric torture that we regularly see being inflicted upon wildlife we should all be trying to protect and help.
“Sadly, people who enjoy these hideous pastimes continue to offend across the picturesque, rural countryside of England and Wales. “But the RSPCA will not rest in bringing people like these to justice.”
Tom Lloyd’s feral offspring are doomed to turn out just like their evil father
Sergeant James Pinder, who led the warrants and searches for Lancashire Police, said: “The guilty pleas in this case were entered/im after a two year-long, detailed investigation by the RSPCA and Lancashire Police’s West Division Rural Task Force. I’d firstly like to praise the thoroughness and tenacity of those investigators.
“The extremely graphic nature of the many videos recovered shocked all who worked on the case.
“I welcome the sentences imposed and hope they send a clear message to those people who would seek to commit similar offences. “I would encourage anyone with information about the illegal persecution of wildlife to report it by calling 1010, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Blaze, Chanelle (and her nine puppies), and Dixie (plus her seven puppies) can all now be rehomed.
Hector will remain in RSPCA care subject to a further court hearing regarding his ownership.
CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal abuser Pamela Mary Brown, born 7 November 1954, of 16 Browney Lane, Browney, Durham DH7 8HT – for the neglect of two horses.
Pamela Brown, a traveller and repeat offender*, has been given an 11-week curfew for causing unnecessary suffering to horses Rosealee and Topsy between January and May 2023..
She pleaded guilty to ineffective equine dentistry care, inadequate investigation, or addressing of the horses’ underweight and poor bodily conditions.
She was ordered to comply with curfew from 9pm to 7am daily at her caravan.
The order lasts until May 21, 2024, includes electronic monitoring, and allows three metres of movement for toilet visits.
She is also disqualified from dealing with horses for ten years and must pay a £114 victim services surcharge and £300 in costs, at £20 per month starting April 3.
*In February 2015 Pamela Brown was given an 18-month supervision order and five-year ban on keeping horses for neglecting one equine so severely he had to be immediately destroyed.
The unnamed horse, who was kept in a field with 12 others in Langley Moor, Durham, was underweight with an overgrown and deformed hoof. Other horses in the herd had skin diseases and lice.
Serial horse abuser Pamela Brown with daughter Louise Nicholson, aka Louise Doherty, co-defendant in the 2015 RSPCA prosecution and co-owner with husband Patrick Doherty of Doherty Stud Yard.
Speaking about the horse that was euthanised, Kevin Campbell for the RSPCA said the animal had “poor body condition .. poor feet, poor living environment and effectively it is difficult to see anything worse that could have been done to to the horse”.
Brown’s co-accused, daughter Louise Nicholson aka Louise Doherty or NickyLouise Dior Doherty, born October 1988, and also of 16 Browney Lane, was cleared of five charges of failing to ensure an animal’s welfare, relating to a pony called Tiny and another unnamed horse.
In mitigation for Pamela Brown, solicitor David Ward described her as “a very robust lady who is the matriarch …”
He added that his client “has some difficulty in reading and writing as they all seem to do, but it is unlikely that this lady will be involved in any further offending“.
In addition to the supervision order and five-year ban, Brown was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2024) | Richard Loveridge, born 2 December 2004, of Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton, Pershore WR10 2AP – for kicking a cat.
Richard Loveridge
Loveridge, a traveller, admitted animal cruelty in relation to a cat named Fefe. The cat’s condition was not reported. The incident took place in Kidderminster on June 28, 2023.
The charge he admitted reads: “Cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – namely the cat, by an act, namely kicking, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so.”
Sentencing | one-year community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days; fined £40 and ordered to pay £50 in compensation and £114 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2024) | George Robert Watson, born 26 September 1972, of 17 Cedar Terrace, West Cornforth, Ferryhill DL17 9NG – left a stallion in pain with a deep head wound.
Watson, a traveller who generally goes by the name Robert Watson, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a horse known as Delboy.
The animal was found with a headcollar so tightly fitted to his head that the metal clip had dug into his skin – causing a painful wound.
An RSPCA Inspector attended a field close to the A1 near Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill on 5 May 2023, after concerns were raised to the charity about the welfare of a horse.
The Inspector found a tethered piebald stallion cob horse, but immediately noticed the horse’s tight head collar buckle embedded around the left side of his face and jaw area.
The inspector said in a witness statement: “The clip on the left hand side of Delboy’s face had dug into the side of his cheek and caused a deep gash which was oozing puss.
“The whole left hand side of the pony’s face was extremely swollen, it was noticeable from a distance away.”
A specialist equine vet was called and after examining Delboy certified that he was suffering.
Durham Police placed him into the care of the RSPCA, where he was transported for veterinary treatment.
In their witness statement, the veterinary surgeon stated: “The soft tissues around the wound were swollen and tender, and the wound where the clip was embedded was painful and the horse did react to me removing the clip.
“These wounds could have been easily prevented by the owner not allowing such a tight headcollar – I believe it had most likely been in place for several weeks as a minimum.”
They added: “By failing to identify a tight headcollar which therefore caused painful wounds to the face, and by also failing to identify wounds that were present and immediately removing the headcollar and seeking veterinary attention to provide first aid and pain relief as a minimum, it is my professional opinion that this owner has caused unnecessary pain and suffering to this horse.”
In May 2023 Watson told his Facebook friends that Delboy had been stolen. In reality, the horse had been removed from him following weeks of neglect.
Watson signed Delboy over to the care of the RSPCA. He has since been cared for at an RSPCA establishment and has recovered well. When he is ready, the team will look to find him a loving new home.
In mitigation given for Watson, it was heard that a relationship break up and a foot injury were factors.
The investigating RSPCA Inspector said after sentencing: “I’m pleased we were able to get Delboy to safety and have his wounds treated.
“It’s so important that horse owners regularly check on their animals for signs of discomfort or poor health, especially when they are left wearing head collars or rugs for any length of time.
“I’m so pleased that Delboy has made such a good recovery from his wounds, and that he will now go on to be adopted into a loving new home.”
Sentencing | ordered to pay a £300 fine, a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £725. Disqualified from owning horses for three years (expires February 2027).
CONVICTED (2024) | John Paul McDonagh (born 01/10/1990) and his wife Mary Louise McDonagh (27/05/1992); Francie Gabriel McDonagh (18/01/1989) and his wife Angela Christina McDonagh (13/10/1989); Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr (02/02/1977) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Snr (13/04/1980); Edward ‘Eddie’ McDonagh (01/11/1995) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr (08/11/1998); husband and wife Martin Joseph McDonagh (23/03/1981) and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh (21/08/1981) and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr (06/12/2001).
These men and their wives were prosecuted following an RSPCA investigation into the illegal puppy trade2016 image of Francie McDonagh. Source: Bucks Free Press
Eleven members of the extended notorious McDonagh clan – all Irish travellers – have been convicted of animal cruelty offences and fraud after trading puppies illegally from the council-funded Ellen Ridge travellers site in Hartridge Farm Road, Newport NP18 2NH.
The six men pleaded guilty to fraud and all 11 admitted an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The case against the vile criminal family involved hundreds of puppies sold to the public under false pretences
The unscrupulous and greedy family made hundreds of thousands of pounds by conning members of the public into believing the puppies they were buying were much-loved pets when in reality they were being bred and traded like “commodities”
They falsely advertised the pups on popular Facebook pages and used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos showing the pups “at home” to hoodwink prospective purchasers.
The RSPCA-led operation found that most of the dogs and puppies, many of whom had health issues, had been imported from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Ireland, while some had been bred in Wales. Others had been stolen
They had advertised and sold at least 40 different breeds of dogs, including Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, beagles, miniature dachshunds, American pocket bully, shihpoos, French bulldogs, cavapoos, chihuahuas, labradors, rottweilers, German shepherds and whippets.
The callous and morally bankrupt family also dealt in stolen animals.
The offences were committed between January 1, 2020, and March 31,2021.
Many of the pups had been imported from countries which included Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The scam was uncovered thanks to a vigilant vet who reported his concerns to the RSPCA. Police had also been called to the Ellen Ridge travellers site following a violent disturbance and undertook a search of the premises.
The total value of the illegal puppy operation is estimated to have netted more than £500,000 with the McDonaghs pocketing around £300,000 in undeclared income.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court said the fraud had been sophisticated and carefully planned. It involved the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK. Some puppies had been bred in Wales and kept in dirty and unsanitary conditions.
The judge told the defendants their motivation had been financial and little regard had been paid to the welfare of the animals involved.
RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stephens told the court the investigation started after a vet became suspicious that a man had taken three litters of puppies into the surgery using the same phone number but calling himself by different names.
The vet contacted the RSPCA, who launched an investigation called Operation Earth. This involved analysis of Facebook adverts and messages, phone records, financial transactions, and details of dogs’ microchips and vets records.
The investigation led to the Newport-based McDonagh family being identified as being behind an operation involving cross-border transportation, breeding, and the sale of puppies and dogs on a large scale.
The investigation revolved around the activities of five couples:
John Paul McDonagh and Mary Louise McDonagh of Laburnum Drive Newport NP19 9AL
Francie Gabriel McDonagh and Angela Christina McDonagh of George Lansbury Drive, Newport NP19 9DS
Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Moorland Park, Newport NP19 4NB
Edward McDonagh and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Maesglas Street, Newport NP20 3BU
Martin Joseph McDonagh and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr all of 114 Maesglas Crescent, Newport NP20 3BY.
The court heard that the RSPCA applied for search warrants for a number of addresses in Newport but before they could be executed “there was an intervening event”.
On April 12, 2021, police officers responded to an emergency call at a property in Caerau Road, Newport, about “five Irish men” trying to kick their way into a property and asking for “the dogs”.
The men dispersed before officers arrived but a review of CCTV footage showed the group had been using two vehicles – a white Ford Transit van and blue Ford Focus car – and the vehicles were soon picked up by a police helicopter.
As a result of that information police officers went to the Ellen Ridge travellers’ site in Newport and two suspects who were identified from the CCTV footage were arrested.
The court heard that in the minutes between the men arriving at the site and police turning up at the gate the two males had swapped clothes and had started to shave their heads “presumably with the intention of evading detection” – those men were Eddie McDonagh and Patrick Christopher McDonagh.
Entrance to the Ellen Ridge travellers site in Newport
While at the site police saw a number of dogs and puppies that were kept in poor conditions and who did not appear in the best of health.
Some 21 dogs and puppies were removed from the premises and four of those were found to have been stolen.
The barrister said all the evidence gathered as part of Operation Earth showed the McDonaghs were advertising pups for sale on four of the main puppy selling sites – FreeAds, Pets4Homes, Preloved, and Gumtree – and the adverts were worded to make it appear that the dogs were from home-bred litters and were socialised and healthy puppies when in reality the defendants were trading puppies and dogs “like commodities with no care for their health or welfare”.
She said veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA “demonstrates the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs”.
Some of the puppies sold by the McDonaghs were found to have microchips from Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. In some cases they had been taken to vets in the UK to make them look like dogs from Britain before then being mixed with other puppies from different origins – thereby further increasing the risks to their welfare.
On one occasion two of the McDonagh couples – Martin Joseph and Rosaleen Marie along with Eddie and Mary Christina – were stopped by officers from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs at the Port of Dover with Dachshunds from the Czech Republic and Hungary in crates in their vehicles.
Martin McDonagh told an animal welfare officer that he and his wife had seen the pups while travelling on the Continent “on business”.
The passports for the puppies were in the names of Anthony Francis McDonagh and John Paul McDonagh. The prosecutor said five of the imported dogs were subsequently abandoned when it transpired they needed veterinary attention.
The court heard that as part of the investigation the RSPCA collected details of all the microchips implanted in the puppies and dogs in the case, traced the date the chips were implanted and to whom they were registered, and the details of who subsequently then sold the animals.
The results of this analysis showed the links between the movements of the puppies between the various members of the McDonagh family.
The investigation also showed that as well as many puppies having been imported some were being bred on the travellers’ site and other dogs were stolen.
The McDonaghs’ Facebook adverts were designed to dupe people into believing the puppies they sold had been bred in a loving home environment.
One read:
“This stunning little tri-coloured cavalier king Charles spaniel pup is now ready to leave for his new homes. We have one boy available he is very loving affectionate pup that likes to play and have cuddles. He has been raised in our family home with our kids and he is well socialised. Mum is our family pet and can be seen with pup”
while another was worded:
“I’ve come to the very sad sale of my beautiful beagle. He is four months old I have had him since he was eight weeks but I hate to say this but my circumstances have changed and I sadly cannot have him no more I am so upset about this as I really do love him but I can no longer give him the time that he deserves and has forced me into putting him up for sale”
The prosecutor said analysis of Facebook adverts and messages and of phone records showed the defendants had used 41 different residential addresses, 47 mobile phone numbers, and 39 email addresses during the puppy-selling scam.
It is estimated that between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, a total of £532,300 worth of dogs were advertised for sale online and the prosecutor said for the purposes of the case the value of the fraud was put at £300,000.
The court heard 20 victims of the scam had given statements to the RSPCA and between them they had paid the McDonaghs more than £30,000 for what they believed were socialised and healthy pups from a family home.
A number of those puppies subsequently required vet treatment with some being diagnosed with pneumonia, some with campylobacter, giardia; two puppies were diagnosed with parvovirus.
The prosecutor said many of the purchasers had been left with large vets bills.
Judge Geraint Walters said there was “carefully coordinated action” where the use of multiple properties, different vehicles and different vet practices had been used, along with false adverts, false documentation and various mobile numbers.
Ms Stephens said there were two sets of victims in the case: the puppies themselves and also the purchasers who suffered “considerable expense and considerable emotional upset through the illness and in some cases death of the puppy”.
She said the defendants “exploited the emotional vulnerability of potential purchasers, some of whom had small children excited about their new member of their family”.
The court heard that as part of the investigation an analysis was carried out into some of the bank accounts belonging to the defendants and “multiple deposits of large quantities of cash” were identified as well as multiple income transactions from “third parties”.
The court heard Patrick McDonagh Snr had 10 bank accounts and saw payments into his accounts totalling more than £120,000 a year while receiving a legitimate income from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and child tax credits accounts of approximately £16,500 per annum.
Francie McDonagh had a turnover in his bank account of £96,800 between December 12, 2019, and August 12, 2021, with cash deposits of in excess of £8,600 and third-party transfers of more than £76,000.
John Paul McDonagh had income from the DWP accounting for £18,310 of a total turnover of £63,122 with more than £14,000 directly referenced to “dogs”.
Martin McDonagh’s Halifax account saw cash deposits of almost £56,000 and only £64,000 of a turnover of £167,331 could be accounted for by DWP transactions.
Martin McDonagh, Francie McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Jnr, John Paul McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Snr, and Eddie McDonagh all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and to failing to meet the needs of puppies in the their care under Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Rosaleen McDonagh, Angela McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr all admitted failing to meet the needs of puppies in their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Heath Edwards, for Martin McDonagh, said the operation had been “unsophisticated” and said only a “fraction” of the dogs sold had been unwell. He said the criminality lay in misrepresenting the animals as home-bred and purchasers got “the same pet just not exactly the one they thought they were buying”. He said his client was a hardworking father-of-six and a good neighbour and he said they were his instructions that the defendant “has no available funds”.
Clare Wilks, for Patrick McDonagh Snr, said the father-of-six had been alcohol-dependent for more than 20 years and battles with his addiction on a daily basis. She said the defendant had been a scrap car dealer and said while the prosecution put the figure of the fraud at £300,000 that cash had been shared between members of the “family network”. The barrister said the defendant “led a rather solitary lifestyle” with his family, had depression and anxiety, and was “something of a closed book” in regard to opening up about the difficulties in his life.
Clare Wilks, for Eddie McDonagh, said the defendant had joined the conspiracy when it was already in existence and said his role had been limited to transporting puppies between locations including importing five puppies from the continent. She said the defendant was on medication for depression.
Andrew Taylor, for Francie McDonagh, said his client had been a roofer but when his work dried up due to Covid he became involved in the puppy conspiracy. He said the defendant was expecting his fifth child in June and was “extremely fearful” of the outcome of the case. The barrister added that “if chivalry exists it exists in his family” with the males taking responsibility and pleading to conspiracy while not guilty pleas on behalf of the females had been accepted by the prosecution.
Steve Burnell, for John Paul McDonagh, said the defendant had been involved in the buying ang selling of vehicles prior to the Covid pandemic and regrets getting involved in the puppy operation. He said the father-of-two was on anti-anxiety medication and was not currently in work.
James McKenna, for Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr, said his client had been aged 18 at the time of the offending and had been involved in the sale of some of the dogs. He said the client was married and had a one-year-old daughter and was keen to improve his literacy skills.
Andrew Kendall, for Mary Christine McDonagh Snr, said the defendant had no previous convictions and was the sole carer for her children.
The barrister also represented Mary McDonagh Jnr and said on her behalf she been present at Dover with her husband Eddie when dogs had been imported into the UK.
Stephen Donoghue, for Rosaleen McDonagh, said a report before the court concluded the mother-of-four presented a low risk of reoffending and it had not identified any rehabilitation needs on her part.
Rhodri Chudleigh, for Mary Louise McDonagh, said the mother-of-two was suffering with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Timothy Evans for Angela McDonagh, said the defendant was heavily pregnant with her fifth child and had dedicated her life to raising her family. He said his client had spent the last three years “agonising” over what would happen to her and her husband and said it was fair to say that she approaches the next year or so with “terror”.
Judge Geraint Walters said the background to the case was the dog population of some nine million animals in the UK and the buying and selling of around 800,000 puppies every year.
He said the McDonagh family fraud had been a sophisticated and carefully planned operation involving the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK as well as the breeding of pups in Wales, the keeping of animals in dirty and unsanitary conditions, a range of documentation, and the use of multiple emails, names, and addresses.
He told the defendants their motivation had been financial and they had paid little regard to the welfare of the animals involved. He said the puppy breeding selling had caused “unspeakable distress” to its victims.
The judge noted that in the cases of the female defendants the maximum sentence available at the time of the offending was one of six months in prison for a summary-only offence though that maximum had subsequently been increased to five years. However he said he was bound to pass sentence having regard to the law as it applied at the time and would effectively sit as a district judge to exercise the power to sentence a summary-only matter.
Following the sentencing RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, said: “We’d very much like to thank all those who helped us bring this case to court, from Gwent Police, veterinary practices, witnesses, Newport Council trading standards and The Animal and Plant Health Agency. The heart-breaking reality of puppy farming is that the welfare of the puppies comes second to making money.
“The sums of money involved are just eye-watering; and it’s another reminder of how unscrupulous this trade can be; and how dangerous poor breeding and trading practices are for dogs, pups and unsuspecting consumers. For anyone looking to buy a puppy, rather than adopt – we urge them to do their research, know the signs of an unscrupulous breeder and use tools such as the Puppy Contract to avoid becoming another victim of the puppy trade.”
Gwent Police constable Bianca Robson-Mallet, who was the officer in charge of the warrant, said the force works closely with the RSPCA in animal cruelty cases and said colleagues had been receiving “intel” for a few months prior to the warrant.
PC Robson-Mallet later rehomed one of the dogs seized during the operation.
Sentencing |
Martin Joseph McDonagh: three and a half years in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr: three and a half years in prison Francie Gabriel McDonagh: three years and two months in prison John Paul McDonagh: three years in prison Eddie McDonagh: 20 months in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr: 18 months in prison.
They will each serve up to half those sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh, Angela Christina McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr, and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr were each made the subject of a 12-month community order and were ordered to complete rehabilitation courses.
Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work, Mary Louise McDonagh was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work,
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh was fined £200, Angela Christina McDonagh was fined £200, and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr was fined £500.
The male defendants were banned from keeping dogs for 15 years while the female defendants only received a 10-year ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2024) | Dane Crawford, born c. 1993, and Shelby Wallis (born 3 October 2000), both of 18 Howgill Avenue, Lancaster LA1 2HG – for offences relating to illegal ear cropping and serious wildlife crime.
Lancaster man Dane Crawford was jailed for 30 months and given a lifetime ban for a ‘portfolio’ of animal cruelty offences against a fox and his own pet dogs, while partner Shelby Wallis walked free with a suspended prison sentence and 10-year ban.
Crawford and Wallis both pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, which included failing to treat their two lurchers’ injuries, including one badly fractured leg, and for allowing the ears of two of their bullbreeds – Drey and Shakira – to be illegally cropped.
Crawford also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a fox after setting dogs on the wild animal inside a garage.
Dogs recovered from the couple included bull breeds Drey and Shakira, both of whom had illegally cropped ears.
The RSPCA launched an investigation following reports of puppies having their ears cropped, leading to a warrant being executed by police at a property in Lancaster in February 2022.
A number of dogs were present but there was no evidence of any crimes having been committed.
During the property search, two mobile phones were recovered which contained images and videos of wildlife being attacked by dogs. This prompted a further warrant, on November 1 2022, in which Crawford was arrested.
Lurchers Major and Lassie were found with untreated injuries after being used by Dane Crawford to attack wild animals including foxes.
During this search, more dogs were found at the property, including two lurchers – called Major and Lassie – with untreated injuries, and bullbreeds with cropped ears. Five dogs in total were removed and placed into RSPCA care.
An image recovered from Crawford’s mobile phone showed Crawford with one of his dogs and a dead fox.
Investigators also looked into the images and videos from the phones, two of which showed foxes being set loose in confined spaces with dogs encouraged to attack them.
RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation, said after the case: “An image was recovered showing Crawford in very distinctive trainers with one of his dogs, holding a dead fox.
“We could identify him within the video of the fox being attacked because of these trainers.”
A vet assessed the lurchers and bullbreeds after they were removed from the home of Crawford and Wallis.
She described Major’s facial injuries as “unusual” and “traumatic”, and suspected they’d been caused by another animal at least 72 hours before. She said, in her witness statement, that the owner should have sought veterinary advice.
She described Lassie’s fractured leg as ‘a traumatic wound’, adding: “I am not sure how it happened but the dog has been left with a very painful leg and the owner had not sought timely veterinary advice. As such there was development of swelling and more pain, and infection.”
Inspector Lamping added: “In interview, Crawford told me he got the two lurchers six weeks before from Appleby. Wallis told me that the three bullbreed dogs were hers and that they’d been imported.”
Lassie and Major were signed over into the RSPCA’s care a few days after they were removed. After spending some time receiving treatment, were both rehomed. The bullbreeds were signed over at a later date.
Sentencing the couple, Judge Simon Medland KC said they had shown “cruel and neglectful behaviour” which caused the animals to suffer “to a substantial degree”.
Addressing Crawford in relation to the offences against the fox, he said: “Your behaviour was criminal and utterly shocking.”
Following the sentencing, Inspector Lamping said: “This case sends a clear message to those that choose to engage in wildlife persecution and ear cropping that their cruel activities will not be tolerated.
“It took many hours to comb through the videos and pictures on the phones recovered; but this work uncovered the serious level of cruelty shown to both the wild animals literally being thrown to the dogs – and to the puppies whose ears were being mutilated.
“The defendants’ own dogs were used in these attacks and were left without vet treatment for serious injuries – including a fractured leg.
“Both have been handed lengthy bans on keeping animals, and handed prison or suspended prison sentences, for their treatment of animals.”
Sentencing | Crawford: 30 months in prison; £3,500 towards costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life. Wallis: three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 200 hours of unpaid work; £2,500 towards costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Ian Rosenberg, born c. 1964, of South Haven Close, Hamworthy, Poole BH16 5BJ – illegally bred and sold puppies.
Illegal dog breeder/dealer Ian Rosenberg (right) with one of his many traveller friends
Rosenberg, who has strong connections to the traveller community, is said to have earned £53,260 through his illegal activities, which he will have to repay.
An investigation led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) into Rosenberg’s operations ran between October 2019 and July 2022, and involved a raid of his Hamworthy property in July 2021.
The warrant was issued by Dorset Police, welfare checks were done by the RSPCA and the council’s Animal Welfare Officers were able to investigate at his premises.
Rosenberg was found to be housing 50 dogs and five litters of puppies.
Trading Standards then carried out a financial investigation which led to the successful prosecution.
This was the first successful conviction by BCP Council in bringing an unlicensed breeder to justice.
In court, he was found guilty of breeding three or more litters of English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel puppies over a 12-month period.
He was also found guilty of selling the puppies without a licence.
Sentencing | two months in prison, suspended for 12 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; repayment of the money he benefitted from through his illegal activity, with £10,500 having to be settled within a three-month period. If any of the payments default, Rosenberg will face six months in jail.
