Lurgan, County Armagh: Kyle Keegan

#MostEvil | Kyle Keegan, born c. 1994, of 7 Gilpins Manor, Lurgan BT66 8AG – filmed himself bludgeoning a 12-week-old puppy to death with a hammer; broadcast the killing on social media

Puppy killer Kyle Keegan of Gilpins Manor, Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Kyle Keegan pictured outside court and his victim, 12-week-old crossbreed puppy Sparky

In a case that dragged on for several months evil puppy killer Kyle Keegan finally confessed to his evil crime on 4 June 2019.

Puppy killer Kyle Keegan of Gilpins Manor, Lurgan, Northern Ireland

Sparky’s body was found in a bin in Ailsbury Park, Lurgan in February 2018.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the dog sustained fractures as well as severe brain trauma.

Prosecuting counsel Nicola Auret outlined how Sparky’s body lay undiscovered in a bin, wrapped in a plastic bag, for two days before owner Ellen Hoy found him having been sent a tip off that “the dog was dead.”

Ms Hoy had a party at her home that weekend and she fed Sparky that Saturday morning before going to her father’s house later on, leaving Sparky in his crate in the front hallway.

A “really drunk” Keegan and a “number of other young people” had been at the party, said Ms Auret, adding that when Ms Hoy came home, Sparky was gone.

“She was told that he had got out,” the lawyer told the court, leading her to search the area and put out an appeal on Facebook.

Ms Hoy again searched for Sparky the following day, Sunday 4 February, but received text messages that evening “that the dog was dead and in the bin.”

The following morning, she found her dog in a bin wrapped in a plastic bag.

Puppy killer Kyle Keegan of Gilpins Manor, Lurgan, Northern Ireland

Ms Auret told the court a hammer and a t-shirt, both spattered with blood, were found beside the washing machine in Ms Hoy’s home and there was also spots of blood in the hallway where Sparky’s crate was.

When Ms Hoy asked Keegan if he had killed Sparky he claimed he was “drunk” and couldn’t remember.

She showed Keegan his blood-spattered top but he told her “he didn’t know how the blood got on it.”

Swabs from the hammer, the top and from the blood spattered wall were sent for forensic analysis and the results provided “extremely strong support that the DNA had come from the dog.

Puppy killer Kyle Keegan of Gilpins Manor, Lurgan, Northern Ireland

Arrested and interviewed, Keegan admitted the top was his but claimed he had “no memory of anything which occurred over the weekend.”

At one stage there had also been allegations that Sparky’s body had been put into a microwave and tissue samples were sent to Scotland for expert analysis but to date, no evidence of that has been forthcoming.

Defence counsel Barry McKenna conceded at the very start of his plea in mitigation that “it is difficult to say that this case is anything other than appalling.”

“It is difficult to rationalise the defendant’s conduct…it is completely inexplicable when one considers that the defendant himself describes himself as an animal lover.

“He is deeply sorry – it’s completely out of character,” declared Mr McKenna.

Puppy killer Kyle Keegan of Gilpins Manor, Lurgan, Northern Ireland

Jailing Keegan, Judge Rafferty said the fact that he had no memory of the incident, coupled with his lack of criminal convictions for violence caused him “very grave concerns” given the lack of explanation for the attack.

“Quite frankly, your actions towards this pup were vile, disgusting and savage,” declared the judge, telling Keegan it would be “absolutely patently clear to anyone such an animal would be entirely defenceless.”

Previous courts have also heard how police conducted enquiries with social media outlets after the incident was broadcast online.

Sentencing: 15 months in jail; banned from owning any animal for 30 years.

Irish News

10 thoughts on “Lurgan, County Armagh: Kyle Keegan”

  1. The evil vile scum inhuman monster you deserve all that is coming your way pure EVIL he will go on to murder humans next poor Sparky please give him the harsher punishment he deserves and when in Jail some animal lover will give you what you deserve a good beaten ,rest in peace Sparky you are at peace now .

    1. I hope you get your come uppance in jail. And the other inmates make your life hell in there, disgusting evil low life.

  2. I would like to use stronger words for this monster, yes monster he’s not human . Real humans don’t do things like this to innocent animals then it will eventually go onto children yes human children . I truly hope the justice system works for the good this time and this monster doesn’t just get a slap on the wrist . This monster needs jail time . I hear things like this happening a lot . We need the courts to step up and end this vicious cycle . PLEASE and THANKYOU . ????????

  3. No words to Express for how much anger so many must have for something this WART has done is so humane to that precious Sparky. Send this Creep to prison, and what this Wart did to this puppy needs to be done 7times worse back to him so he feels far worse pain till death.
    Courts need to punish for the sake of JUSTICE being done!!! Maybe cruelty to animals will slow down

  4. People like this are dangerous and need to be identified. I see no reason this man should ever be allowed near animals or children again.

  5. He is a psychopath. You can’t help them. You can’t fix them. They must be purged from the planet so that it may begin to heal.

  6. This vile monster wants hanging upside down from a tree in the the centre of his town , so people can keep swinging him around for a week while throwing choppers at him then when he’s dead chuck him in his perents garden to see what they brought up.

  7. Let a bunch of dog lovers loose in a room with this evil scumbag. Must be in fancy dress because he has no brains to wear a cap and gown. I would willingly spend an hour in your company and see how you would like to face the wrath of me.

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