CONVICTED (2022) | John Fitzgerald, born 1960 and Jackie Glennon, born March 1975, of Malton Street, Halifax HX3 6HS – given a lifetime ban after Fitzgerald battered a cat to death while 18 others were found at their home in a neglected state.

Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to a total of six animal welfare offences while Glennon admitted three charges.

RSPCA inspectors Kris Walker and Nikki Cheetham attended the couple’s address on April 1, 2021 to investigate a report from a member of the public that Fitzgerald had claimed he had strangled the cat, known as Guinevere. There were also concerns about the health of several other cats kept at the property.

Kris said when he arrived at the property he asked Fitzgerald: “Can you just confirm that you killed Guinevere the cat by snapping her neck on March 31, 2021″ – to which he instantly replied “yes.”

A total of 18 cats were found at the property with various ailments, including flea infestations, skin disease, underweight body conditions and some were suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Kris said: “I noted six cats in the living room, all were scabby and smelled strongly of urine, and five cats on the second floor that were all underweight and scabby.

“On the top floor of the property I noted more female cats who appeared to be in the worst condition. They were all scabby, full of fleas, had hair loss, breathing issues, were snotty and fluey. All of the cats in the house I noted to have health issues, all of the rooms smelled strongly of ammonia and were dirty, the cats were all scratching and had open sores in various areas and varying degrees of hair loss.”

The couple admitted all 18 cats and the dead cat were in their joint care and none were receiving veterinary treatment.

The surviving cats were all signed over into RSPCA care where they were rehabilitated and all have since been rehomed – including one female cat who was heavily pregnant and went on to have six kittens which have also been found forever homes.

Guinevere’s body was found in the bathroom sink. A pathologist report later found she had an obvious tumour which had spread to her lymph nodes and the kidney. It also found that the cat had not been strangled but had died from a blunt force trauma.

The report added: “The tumour is likely to have been rapidly progressive but it would have been a clearly observable mass for a prolonged period before death. The cat will have become progressively weak and required vet evaluation for several months prior to death. The pathologist also comments that is likely to have been very weak at the time of death and also that there was no evidence to confirm that had been strangled. The features suggest that a blunt trauma to the head was the likely cause of death.”

In mitigation for Fitzgerald the court heard he had no previous convictions and he had served his country in the Army and would be deeply ashamed if he received a prison sentence.

The court heard that Glennon was in poor health, was no longer in a relationship with Fitzgerald. She accepted she could have done more.

Sentencing:
Fitzgerald – 12 month community order with 280 hours of unpaid work; a total of £495 in costs and charges.
Glennon – ordered to pay a total of £420 in costs and charges.
Both were given a lifetime ban on keeping any animal.

Halifax Courier