CONVICTED (2024) | Nicola O’Neill, born 10 February 1984, and James McWilliams, born c. 2003, of Felden Place, Newtownabbey BT36 7FL – for the neglect and starvation of nine filthy bull-terriers who resorted to eating another already dead dog.
Evil backyard breeders James McWilliams and Nicola O’Neill abandoned 10 dogs with one being eaten by the others after dying
Mother and son Nicola O’Neill and James McWilliams admitted failures to ensure the needs of the severely malnourished animals were met but blamed a lack of money.
In March 2022 an animal welfare officer from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council attended the family home on the outskirts of north Belfast to investigate a report that a dead dog was being eaten by others.
The officer discovered a mixture of puppies and full-grown dogs, some severely underweight and kept in filthy pens without access to bedding or water.
“Through the fencing she could see a dead dog on the ground that appeared to be half-eaten,” prosecution counsel said.
Five pups, believed to be American XL Bully breeds, were being held in a crate in the kitchen area, covered in urine and faeces and with their ribs and spines clearly visible.
Some other dogs were in the back garden, close to the dead bull terrier.
Based on post-mortem examination and a lack of blood spattering on the ground, prosecutors believe he had already died when the others began to eat the remains.
All nine surviving dogs were seized and examined by the Council’s vet.
McWilliams later told the welfare officer he did not usually live at the property, but had previously helped his mother take care of the dogs.
He also claimed they were struggling for money to feed the animals.
Counsel added: “Before this incident he was advertising six-week old American XL Bully pups for sale on Facebook, believed to be the five puppies that were seized at the time.
With the costs of caring for the remaining animals now in excess of £2,000, they are all still alive and have gained significant weight since their seizure.
Defence barrister Jonathan Browne acknowledged the circumstances were “deeply unpleasant”.
“Any right-thinking member of the public will find the facts truly abhorrent,” he said.
Mr Browne told the court the dogs had belonged to O’Neill’s late husband James McWilliams Sr – a prominent member of paramilitary group the Irish National Liberation Army. The court heard that he lived elsewhere but visited every day to tend to the dogs.
After McWilliams Sr’s sudden death in August 2021 O’Neill “neglected to look after the dogs”.
He added that James McWilliams Jr had an emotional bond with the animals and felt that giving them away would be a disservice to his late father’s memory.
“It’s a romantic notion, but in reality it costs money,” Mr Browne submitted.
“He found himself wanting to care for them but financially not able to.”
Urging District Judge George Conner not to send either defendant to jail, Mr Browne predicted they will carry the stigma of offences with them for the rest of their lives.
Judge Conner told them: “For those who enter a responsibility to look after animals, a very high standard (is required).
“Unfortunately in this case you both failed very badly.”
Sentencing |
Nicola O’Neill: four-month custodial suspended for a year; £250 towards costs. James McWilliams: 100 hours of community service; £599 costs. Both are banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Zara Doherty, born 20 June 1992, of Glenvarna Drive, Newtownabbey, BT36 but with links to West Belfast – left her pet dog and cat unattended in a property for several days.
Pets belonging to Zara Doherty had to be rescued by local authority animal welfare officers after she abandoned them
Proceedings against Doherty, a heroin addict, were brought by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011. Doherty was convicted in her absence after failing to attend court.
The council’s animal welfare officer visited the property on the Glenvarna estate in January 2023 and, after ascertaining that no one had tended to the needs of the animals for several days, carried out an abandonment procedure.
Zara Doherty’s pets Bella and Loki. The supposed ex-junkie has a history of pets in her care going ‘missing’
The officer executed a warrant and witnessed an underweight dog, thought to be a German Shepherd/Rottweiler crossbreed named Bella, and a young cat called Loki, locked in a room with no access to food and water. The area was dirty with faeces and urine present on the floors. A council vet advised removal of the animals from the property.
Sentencing | three-month suspended prison sentence; a total of £433.14 towards legal/court costs, vet expenses and boarding fees. Laughable two-year ban on keeping animals (expires November 2025).
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy farmers / traffickers Tom Paul Mongan, born c. 1995, of 4 Mill Pond Glen, Poleglass, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0XX, and William Joseph Mongan, aka William Ward, born 9 October 1983, of 6 Ardcaoin Grove, Poleglass, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0US
Brothers Tom Mongan (left) and William Mongan sold sick puppies from rented Glasgow flats leaving a trail of misery in their wake
Notorious puppy farmer/trafficker Tom Mongan, who in May 2023 was convicted for similar charges in Northern Ireland, and brother William Mongan, sold dogs online from rented Airbnb properties across Glasgow.
The dogs were found in poor shape and were discovered living in unsanitary conditions by SSPCA inspectors.
Some of the 11 pets the pair were responsible for were later put down due to ill health.
Tom Mongan pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering while William Mongan admitted two charges.
The charges spanned between December 2020 and February 2021.
The brothers – who are of the Irish traveller community – were sentenced to nine months in jail each by Sheriff Mark McGuire.
He said: “Each of you pled guilty to what can be described as animal cruelty on 11 separate dogs.
“What I heard is what the public would know as puppy farming.
“It must have been obvious the dogs were unwell and the conditions they were kept in was poor – you took no steps to get help for these animals.
“The motivation was for financial gain – each dog was priced at over £1,000.
“It was clearly greed and it brought unimaginable misery to those who unfortunately bought them.
“I am satisfied there is no other appropriate sentence than custody.”
Tom Mongan with wife Ellie Marie Mongan. The charges against her and Brigid Marie Mongan, sister of Tom and Edward, were dropped during court proceedings
Despite facing prosecution for similar offences in Northern Ireland, Tom Mongan went on to rent out a number of Airbnb properties in Glasgow for the purposes of selling more dogs.
He advertised a springer spaniel puppy on website PetsForHomes which was answered by a man.
He met Tom at an address and was shown a vaccination card for the puppy who was lying on a couch.
He paid Tom £1,600 in separate transactions to purchase the puppy later named Bella.
Tom contacted the man the following day to ask when he would pick up the dog.
Prosecutor Gail Campbell said: “[The man] told him that they picked up the puppy and was then blocked by Tom Mongan on the website.”
The man also noticed that the puppy had diarrhoea and was lethargic with parvovirus suspected by a vet.
The decision was made to euthanize Bella days later due to her ill health.
Ms Campbell added: “The vet thought that the dog was caused unnecessary suffering.
“[The man] contacted Tom Mongan on Facebook to tell him the puppy had died but he blocked him.”
A woman purchased a Pomeranian puppy from Tom in similar circumstances which was named Abbie.
The dog vomited and also had diarrhoea which included live worms.
Abbie was taken to the vet where she was noted to have done the toilet on herself and could stand on her own.
Abbie was also euthanized with a post mortem finding that she suffered from parvovirus.
A man and woman purchased a Beagle later named Freya from Tom.
She was later noted to have no appetite, vomited and had diarrhoea. Freya also passed away from her condition.
The woman contacted Tom but received no reply.
SSPCA inspectors and police raised of the addresses on January 28 2021 and found Tom Mongan, William Mongan and eight puppies within.
A spaniel puppy was noted to be “distressed”, as well as lethargic and could not lift her head.
Another spaniel puppy and a Pomeranian were also found to be in a “visibly poor condition.”
A puddle of clear yellow fluid, believed to be diarrhoea was found on the floor of one of the bedrooms.
The puppies were seized and only four of them were linked to microchips.
A vet stated that all the puppies were in poor condition and should have received veterinary care. One of the dogs was put down.
Grubby family enterprise: Brigid Mongan with brother William Mongan. The case against her did not proceed
Over a week later, William Mongan was visited by the SSPCA who received information beagle puppies were being sold.
Four puppies were found inside including a beagle puppy who was in a poor condition.
A border collie described as being “extremely unwell” was noted to be lying in her own urine and faeces.
William threatened legal action on one of the SSPCA inspectors who seized the puppies
Ms Campbell added: “The inspector has not been contacted by a lawyer.”
Atlanta Jack, defending Tom, told the sentencing her client was involved for financial gain.
The lawyer added: “He expresses his regret for the people who purchased the puppies and he is apologetic for the upset and inconvenience caused.”
Patrick Brechany, defending William, stated his client is a gardener by trade who is “remorseful and “regretful.”
Mr Brechany denied that William was a “puppy farmer” but sold dogs who were puppy farmed.
Sheriff McGuire banned the two men, of Belfast, from keeping animals for ten years.
Sentencing | nine-month custodial; 10-year ban applicable to all animals.
In April 2023 Irish newspaper Sunday World published an article on “convicted fraudster” William Mongan in which they described how neighbours of the vile Mongans had to take action to stop newborn puppies bred by the family from dying. The article revealed how people living in the same street as William Mongan had been going into his back yard to feed two very young cocker spaniel puppies he had left in a shed. Concerned neighbours told the Sunday World reporter how the puppies cried 24 hours a day for food and attention.
Abandoned puppies only survived thanks to the intervention of kindly neighbours of William Mongan aka William Ward
“He dropped the puppies off … and he left and has only been seen back once since then and even then he didn’t get out of his van,” said one concerned neighbour.
“He doesn’t live here very much and he hasn’t been seen much but nobody can understand why he’d abandon two vulnerable young puppies like this in his yard.
“The poor things have been whining constantly because he didn’t leave any food for them. They are far too young to be away from their mother.
“It’s maybe hard to understand how distressing it is to have to listen to young puppies crying 24 hours a day because they are starving and missing their mum.
“Loads of neighbours have complained to Belfast City Council’s animal welfare department as well as the USPCA but nobody seems to be doing anything.”
CONVICTED (2023) | hare coursers Darren Prenter, born 25 May 1996, of Velsheda Court, Belfast BT14 7LZ, Patrick McGourty, born 27 December 1995, and Patrick Robert Shannon, born 17 March 1972, of Cranbrook Court, Belfast BT14 7HA.
Hare coursing gang members L-R Darren Prenter, Paddy Shannon, Patrick McGourty
Prenter and McGourty admitted illegal hare coursing as well as aggravated trespass in Glenwherry Moor in County Antrim on January 22, 2023. Shannon only admitted the aggravated trespass offence.
Following their guilty pleas, the Public Prosecution Service withdrew charges of killing game and taking part in a hare-coursing event.
A defence lawyer told the court the moor’s gamekeeper alerted the police to suspected hare coursing.
When officers arrived, the defendants came walking across fields with three lurchers and a springer spaniel.
While they claimed they had been out walking their dogs, two dead hares were found during a search of a car.
The trio said they had found them by the roadside but were given a formal police caution.
The Public Prosecution Service told the court earlier this week that hare coursing had been a persistent problem on the moor.
District Judge Nigel Broderick replied: “I think I’ve dealt with this area before.”
A defence lawyer conceded that since the dead animals had been found with puncture wounds, it was likely they had died in coursing.
But they added there was no evidence they had been killed on the moor.
Judge Broderick doubted the trio had been in the area merely to walk dogs.
He said: “They all live in Belfast [and] they were in Ballymena. It’s a long way to go just for a walk.”
The judge said: “I take a dim view of this behaviour. It’s an area of conservation, well-maintained, and this was a deliberate act.”
The case against Shannon was adjourned until December 7 for a pre-sentence report.
Sentencing | Prenter and McGourty were given a two-month custodial sentence, suspended for three years.
Career criminal Patrick Robert Shannon has now been sentenced. Shannon, who has 156 previous convictions, was given three months in prison, suspended for three years.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told him: “On balance, I will leave something hanging over your head.”
Shannon, now of Annesley Street in Belfast, had already admitted aggravated trespass when he appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court.
Judge Broderick told Shannon that when deciding his sentence, he had to take into account his extensive criminal record. His previous convictions include armed robbery and drug smuggling.
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy farmer/trafficker Tom Paul Mongan, born c. 1995, of 4 Mill Pond Glen, Poleglass, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0XX – tried to transport 16 puppies from Northern Ireland to England by squeezing them into the boot of his car.
Irish traveller Tom Mongan – head of a notorious gang of puppy breeders and traffickers based in the Poleglass area of Dunmurry, Belfast – pleaded guilty to being the keeper of 16 puppies to whom he caused unnecessary suffering.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he was stopped on October 1, 2020 as he attempted to board a ferry to Liverpool.
Harbour Police officers discovered and seized a total of 16 puppies, including chihuahuas, spaniels and beagles, within the boot of his Ford Kuga.
“They had been squeezed into two crates that were too small, lying on top of each other,” a prosecution lawyer said.
“Several pups were in a small blue plastic crate, lying on a filthy pillow covered in faeces.
“There was no food or water available for the puppies for the eight-hour journey in which the defendant would have no access to the vehicle.”
Veterinary examinations established that at least some of the dogs were less than six weeks old and showing signs of disease.
One of the animals who appeared particularly weak was diagnosed with water on the brain and later had to be put to sleep.
A vet stated that the pups should not have been sold until properly weaned and vaccinated.
Even at that stage any transportation should have been by the shortest possible ferry crossing, the court was told.
Defence solicitor Adrian Harvey said his client had been distressed by photographs of the seized puppies.
“Mr Mongan would say that he was engaged in doing this simply for money,” he submitted.
“Other family members asked him to embark on this journey, he had no experience whatsoever with dogs and no knowledge of their requirements and needs.”
Mr Harvey added: “It was very distressing to go through those reports, and he accepts full responsibility for what he has done.”
District Judge George Conner told Mongan that the offence carried a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment.
“This is a very serious matter,” he stressed.
Despite the judge’s stern warnings, Mogan walked free from court with a community service order.
Sentencing | 100 hours of community service; ordered to pay £680 towards costs. Disqualified from owning dogs or transporting any animals for a 10-year period (expires May 2033).
Tom and Ellie Mongan plus Brigid ‘Biddy’ Mongan and William Mongan
Tom Mongan is one of four defendants facing prosecution for cruelty to animals in Scotland.
The allegations are that he kept four ill pets at a property in Glasgow’s Shawlands and Tollcross between December 2020 and February 2021.
Court papers say that he failed to keep the dogs in a clean condition and a suitable environment.
It is stated that he did not vaccinate dogs Bella, Albi and Freya – all now deceased – as well as “a number of other dogs.”
Some of the animals were described as having worm burden, poor coat and body conditions as well as parvovirus.
Tom’s siblings William Mongan, born c. 1983 (address tbc), and Brigid Mongan, born c. 1993, of 11 Brians Well Grove, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0YQ face similar charges at the Tollcross property between the same dates.
The parvovirus which the dogs allegedly suffered from is what ended their lives, the charge states.
Brigid Mongan faces a further allegation of causing a dog named Reggie unnecessary suffering at the Shawlands property on the same dates.
Reggie is stated to have had a poor coat and body condition, parasitic infestation, haemorrhagic diarrhoea as well as parvovirus.
A final charge states the trio as well as co-accused Ellie Marie Mongan (Tom Mongan’s wife), born c. 1993,, caused unnecessary suffering to dogs at a property in the city’s Ibrox between January and February 2021.
The dogs are also said to have been suffering from similar symptoms such as parasitic infestation and parvovirus.
The four pleaded not guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
At time of publication, the trial is ongoing with the ring’s most recent court appearance being in April 2023.
CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan Schlaubitz, age unknown, of Ballysillan Crescent, Belfast BT14 8HR – threw a kitten against a wall.
Kitten abuser Ryan Schlaubitz
In a Belfast City Council prosecution case that took five years to come to court, former postman Schlaubitz was convicted of failing to ensure the welfare of a kitten and causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten at an address at Ballysillan Crescent in 2017.
According to newspaper reports the kitten sustained injuries to his or her face and “later required veterinary treatment”. It’s not known if the kitten survived.
Schlaubitz, whose now defunct LinkedIn profile described as a “parcel courier”, was given a suspended prison sentence and five-year ban on keeping animals. He was also ordered to pay costs of £176.
CONVICTED (2022) | Jordan Wilson, born 23 September 1992, of 88B Rowan Drive, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9QE – kicked his cowering dog in the head.
Wilson admitted carrying out the brutal attack on the unnamed dog in the city centre on October 28, 2021..
The court heard police spotted the violent outburst on CCTV footage as Wilson walked from the Grand Opera House towards the Europa Hotel.
“He proceeded to kick his dog aggressively on the head,” a Crown lawyer said.
“The dog appeared to be in fear, with its tail pointing downward.
“The defendant then kicked the dog a second time before he was stopped and arrested.”
In a separate incident on August 20, 2021, police discovered Wilson lying drunk on the city’s Dublin Road. But when officers requested an ambulance due to his condition he became verbally abusive.
Wilson then kicked a sergeant on the leg during attempts to take him to hospital.
He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, disorderly behaviour, and assault on police in connection with the two cases.
Defence solicitor Joe Hackett described the incident involving the dog as “very unsavoury”, but argued that his client has no previous history of similar violence.
“This was just a one-off incident fuelled by alcohol,” Mr Hackett contended.
Imposing one month in custody based on Wilson admitting the offences, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer ordered him to serve a further three months for breaching previous suspended terms.
“You were unnecessarily abusive to police who were simply trying to help you on the Dublin Road when you were in an intoxicated state,” the judge told him.
“Having been through that process you were seen to kick a dog a number of times in the head, causing the dog to cower and behave in a frightened fashion.”
Mr Mateer barred Wilson from keeping animals for a period of five years, but confirmed his right to appeal.
He added: “If he shows this was a one-off and that he can manage to control his temper around a dumb animal then I’m quite sure the court can remove that disqualification.”
Sentencing: four months in jail. Five-year ban which he can appeal.
CONVICTED (2021) | Victoria Tweed, born 1995, of Mountcollyer Road, Belfast BT15 3DT – for neglect and starvation of her pet Rottweiler dog
Rottweiler Archie was starved and neglected by single mother Victoria Tweed, who’s originally from Portrush, County Antrim
Mother-of-two Tweed pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, who has been renamed Archie.
The charges were brought against Tweed by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.
A council animal welfare officer visited Tweed’s previous property at Garron Park, Portrush in February 2019 and summoned a vet to examine Archie, who was clearly underweight and being kept in dirty, unhygienic conditions.
The emaciated dog was discovered living in foul conditions but went on to recover and has been rehomed
The vet certified that Archie should be removed from the property, and he was taken into the council’s care. The vet concluded that the dog was suffering, and was found to be very hungry when fed at the clinic.
After a month in care Archie’s weight increase by 60%. Soon after he was rehomed and has maintained a healthy weight ever since.
Sentencing: a total of £500 in costs and fines. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires March 2026).
CONVICTED (2020) | Raymond Hoy Leckey, born 20/02/1963, of 20 McCandless Street, north-west Belfast BT13 1RU – refused to take his seriously ill Akita to the vet; dog seized by welfare officers and euthanised on humane grounds
Belfast City Council brought the prosecution against Leckey for causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of the unnamed dog on 14 March 2018.
The Council’s animal welfare team seized the dog under veterinary advice after Leckey had refused to take her for a veterinary check, as directed by an animal welfare office on 12 March 2018.
Very sadly the dog had to be euthanised as she was deemed to be suffering.
Sentencing: two four-month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2020) | Wayne Francis McGrath, born December 1972, of Marsden Gardens Flats, Belfast BT15 5AN – bludgeoned his pet dog to death with a hammer and burnt his remains
Wayne McGrath and victim Patch
McGrath said he killed the American bulldog-type dog, known as Patch, after the animal mauled an eight-year-old girl.
Police found no evidence of the Patch’s remains but a court heard his owner caused him “unimaginable pain”.
McGrath admitted charges of being the keeper of a dog involved in the attack on the child and causing him unnecessary suffering.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court was told Patch was not on a lead when he attacked the girl at Kinnaird Avenue, North Belfast.
The child was bitten and mauled, and witnesses described seeing the dog shake and trail the child by the hair.
McGrath and another man punched and kicked the dog in a bid to break his hold on the girl, the court heard.
She then fled, but the animal shook off a chain put round his neck and began chasing her.
“The dog caught up with the child and got on top of her, and was shaking her and mauling at her chest,” a prosecution lawyer told the court.
The two men then grabbed the dog and restrained him, while the girl was led to safety.
McGrath was questioned at the scene by police, who took both him and the dog back to his partner’s house.
The following day officers checked to see if he had handed over the animal to be humanely destroyed, but McGrath told them he had killed the dog himself.
The court heard he had received death threats and was under pressure to dispose of the dog, but did not have the money to take the animal to a vet to be euthanised.
No remains of the dog were found when police searched McGrath’s home, but during interviews he claimed to have killed the animal at a dump near Ligoniel.
“He admitted killing the dog by hitting it over the crown of the head with a hammer twice, and then putting its remains in a wheelie bin, covering it with copper wire and petrol, and setting the remains and the tools he used on fire,” a prosecution barrister said.
But no evidence of dog remains or the burnt bins were found during further searches of the dump area either.
The court heard McGrath’s admissions were the only evidence that the dog had died in the way described.
The prosecution said the animal had been subjected to unnecessary cruelty.
“A blow to the head with a hammer would cause a lot of damage, trauma and pain,” the lawyer argued.
“In the final moments of its life the animal would have experienced unimaginable pain and fear inflicted by its carer.
“There’s no way to ascertain if the first blow from the hammer would have rendered the dog insensible, and the owner ascertained a further blow was indeed required.”
A defence barrister said McGrath acted out of fear, having received a visit from people connected to an unnamed criminal organisation.
The judge said it was a “terrible case” in which a girl had sustained “lasting injury” and a dog was treated in an “appalling” manner.
“I have no doubt in my mind that unnecessary suffering was caused to that animal.”
Sentencing: four months in prison. Lifetime ban on keeping any animals. McGrath was released on bail, pending an appeal against his jail sentence (later abandoned).
