Tag Archives: Craigavon

Dogs

Portadown, County Armagh: David Fryers

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CONVICTED (2023) | David Fryers, born c. 1964, of Seagoe Road, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5HW – for the chronic neglect of two dogs kept in filthy conditions.

One of two neglected dogs found in squalor at the home of alleged Portadown paedophile David Fryers.
One of two neglected dogs found in squalor at the home of alleged paedophile* David Fryers.

David Fryers, aka Robert Fryers, was fined and given a one-year ban after the unnamed dogs were found at his home in a neglected state and living in filth.

Fryers was investigated by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in November 2020 after they received a complaint about the welfare of his two dogs.

A council Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) visited Fryers’ home on several occasions and also wrote to him, but he failed to make contact.

The AWO therefore obtained a warrant and, accompanied by police officers and a vet, forced entry to the property.

The two dogs were found in the kitchen in extremely poor and filthy conditions. The floor was soiled and there was an overpowering smell of dog faeces and urine throughout the property.

The outdoor area was littered with faecal matter and a pile of wood with exposed nails was considered to pose a risk of injury to both animals.

Veterinary examination showed that both dogs had overgrown and unkempt coats, skin lesions and overgrown nails indicating chronic neglect and lack of exercise.

They were taken into council care and successfully rehomed in October 2021.

In court, Fryers pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the welfare of two dogs in his care.

Sentencing | fined £200 and ordered to pay a further £157 in legal and court fees including a £15 offender’s levy. ONE-year ban (expires February 2024).

ArmaghI

Additional Information

*In May 2021 Fryers appeared in court under the name Robert David Fryers to face charges of making indecent images of children. No updates are currently available.

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, hunting with dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Serial Animal Abusers, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Gilford / Banbridge, County Down: Ryan Potts and Margaret Doherty

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CONVICTED (2021) | wildlife persecutors / backyard breeders Ryan Potts (better known as JR McAtamney), born 18 June 1995, of 7 Pineview Court, Gilford BT63 6AY, and Margaret Anne Doherty, born 13 September 1996, of 39 Edenderry Park, Banbridge BT32 3AY – caused suffering to two dogs

Ryan Potts aka notorious wildlife persecutor JR McAtamney  and partner Margaret Doherty allowed their dogs to be mutilated and left them to suffer without treatment
Ryan Potts aka notorious wildlife persecutor JR McAtamney  and partner Margaret Doherty allowed their dogs to be mutilated and left them to suffer without treatment

Commercial breeder and serial wildlife persecutor Ryan Potts, who owns JR Kennels, and girlfriend Margaret Doherty had convictions of animal welfare offences upheld at an appeal hearing.

This dog suffered injuries consistent with animal fighting. She was so badly mutilated that she was put to sleep for welfare reasons
This dog suffered injuries consistent with animal fighting. She was so badly mutilated that she was put to sleep for welfare reasons

Potts was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs and permitting a banned procedure to be carried out on the ear tissue of a dog, otherwise known as ‘ear cropping’.

Doherty was also convicted of permitting the dog’s ears to be cropped.

The pair, who are also backyard breeders, had arranged for a 10-week-old puppy's ears to be cropped
The vile pair, who are also backyard breeders, had arranged for a 10-week-old puppy’s ears to be cropped

Enforcement action was taken by Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council following a complaint received in October 2017 from a member of the public.

Acting on the complaint, Animal Welfare Officers visited a property in Pineview Court, Gilford after obtaining a search warrant.

Ryan Potts and Margaret Doherty allowed their pets to be mutilated and left them to suffer without treatment

Upon investigation, officers were concerned for the welfare of a blue American Bully type puppy and a Black Patterdale terrier-type found at the property.

Ryan Potts aka notorious wildlife persecutor JR McAtamney  and partner Margaret Doherty allowed their dogs to be mutilated and left them to suffer without treatment

The American Bully puppy, who was approximately 10 weeks old, showed evidence that a prohibited procedure had been carried out on his ears, which had been stitched with blue suture thread.

Veterinary evidence suggested that the injuries had been caused to the dog inflicted approximately seven days earlier.

The Patterdale terrier had a severe injury to her lower jaw which had been left untreated and become infected.

Ryan Potts aka notorious wildlife persecutor JR McAtamney  and partner Margaret Doherty allowed their dogs to be mutilated and left them to suffer without treatment

The Council’s attending vet found that this dog was suffering and due to the severity of the wound the animal had to be humanely destroyed.

A council spokesperson commented: “Ear cropping is illegal. There is no benefit to the dog and it is purely a cosmetic procedure which is painful to the dog, carries risk of infection and takes weeks to heal. We as a council will do all in our power to bring enforcement measures to those that cause such suffering to a dog or indeed fail to care for the welfare of animals .”

Sicko Potts also gets his kicks from setting his dogs on foxes and other wildlife
Twisted Potts also gets his kicks from setting his dogs on foxes and other wildlife

Potts’ conviction was upheld for causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs and for permitting the ear cropping of the American Bully. He was given a total fine of £1,000, ordered to pay full veterinary and boarding costs totalling £2,293.50 plus legal costs of £500.

Doherty was fined £500 in respect of permitting the ear cropping to the American Bully dog that had been registered in her name, and ordered to pay legal costs of £200.

Both defendants were banned from keeping any animal for five years (expires February 2026).

ArmaghI

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Tullygally, Craigavon: Caithlin Fitzpatrick

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CONVICTED (2020) | Caithlin ‘Katie’ Fitzpatrick, born 18/07/1995, of 95 Aldervale, Tullygally, Craigavon BT65 5AX – starved and neglected her dog

Katie Fitzpatrick and the dog she neglected and starved
Katie Fitzpatrick and the dog she neglected and starved


Caithlin Fitzpatrick was guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the welfare of her unnamed Jack Russell terrier.

Dog abuser Katie Fitzpatrick from Craigavon, Northern Ireland

Fitpatrick was prosecuted after a council animal welfare officer found the female dog in a room that was heavily littered with canine faecal matter and soaked in dog urine. No water had been provided for the dog, who was also malnourished.

The dog was seized after a veterinary assessment was carried out and was taken in the care of the Council. She was subsequently re-homed after the owner voluntarily signed her over.

Sentencing: 12-month probation order; costs of £340. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires November 2025).

ArmaghI

Dogs, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders

Portadown, Craigavon: Lloyd Fowler

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CONVICTED (2020) | Lloyd Fowler, born c. 1965, of Drumcree Grove, Portadown, Craigavon BT62 4AL – kept two dogs in a filthy property strewn with rubbish

Disgusting conditions inside Lloyd Fowler's property where two dogs were kept

Fowler, who was previously jailed for sending a sexually explicit video to a minor, was convicted in his absence of offences relating to dogs being kept in unsanitary conditions

The case was brought against Fowler by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

On September 3, 2019, an Animal Welfare Officer visited Fowler’s property and observed the interior of the house to be in an extremely unsanitary state, noticing numerous empty cans of dog food inside the kitchen and living areas.

On September 26, 2019 the officer obtained a search warrant and returned to the property, accompanied by a vet.

The vet conducted an assessment and determined both dogs should be removed due to the poor conditions they were being subjected to.

The dogs were seized and taken into the care of the Council. Fowler subsequently signed both dogs over on a voluntary basis. Both dogs were successfully re-homed.

Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £672. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires November 2030).

ArmaghI

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Lurgan, County Armagh: Marie McGahan

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CONVICTED (2020) | backyard breeder Sarah ‘Marie’ McGahan, born 11/11/1967 of Belvedere Manor, Lurgan, Craigavon BT67 9NW – failed to ensure the welfare of a nursing Staffy and her puppies.

Dog abuser Marie McGahan from Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Marie McGahan

In a case brought by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, Marie McGahan pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences relating to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and her pups.

This followed an investigation in 2018 as a result of information from the public.

McGahan had failed to make the necessary improvements to the cleanliness of the area in which dogs were kept and a litter of pups were found in squalid conditions at her home.

Conditions in which Marie McGahan kept a mother dog and her puppies
McGahan kept puppies and their mother in foul conditions

McGahan was deemed to be in breach of a notice requiring her to maintain a clean environment for the animals in her care.

A council spokesperson said: “The judge in this case saw fit to impose a five-year ban from keeping animals because the defendant persistently neglected the needs of her dogs and flagrantly disregarded animal welfare legislation.

“This case serves as a reminder that the council will investigate complaints and bring forward legal proceedings against those who do not take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animals.”

Sentencing: fined £150 and ordered to pay council costs of £226. Five-year disqualification order in respect of all animals (expires March 2025).

Lurgan Mail

Dogs

Moyraverty, Craigavon: Sheena McCartney

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CONVICTED (2020) | Sheena McCartney, born 15/11/1971, of 15 Drumellan Walk, Moyraverty, Craigavon BT65 5NH – persistently neglected her dogs

Dog abuser Sheena McCartney

Sheena McCartney was banned from keeping animals for five years after failing to ensure the welfare of two dogs in her care.

She was convicted on three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a Rottweiler with an eye condition, failing to comply with an improvement notice requiring her to bring the dog to a vet for treatment, and wilfully neglecting the needs of both the Rottweiler and a lurcher.

Rottweiler neglected by Sheena McCartney

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council pursued the prosecution under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 after completing an investigation, which was initiated by a report from a member of the public who was concerned about the dogs’ welfare.

McCartney initially did not respond to contact from the Council, and when she did, an improvement notice was issued to her requiring her to seek treatment for the Rottweiler’s eye condition.

This was not complied with and due to her lack of co-operation, a warrant to enter her property was secured.

The Animal Welfare Officer subsequently visited McCartney’s property with a vet, who assessed the Rottweiler as suffering and the lurcher as being likely to suffer given the conditions in which he was being kept.

Both dogs were immediately taken into Council care and later rehomed.

A Council spokesperson commented: “The judge in this case saw fit to give a custodial sentence in addition to a disqualification from keeping animals because the defendant persistently neglected the needs of her dogs’ and flagrantly disregarded animal welfare legislation.

Sentencing: custodial sentence suspended for 18 months. Ordered to pay £84 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires February 2025).

ArmaghI.com

Dogs

Knockmenagh, Craigavon: Arthur Donaldson

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CONVICTED (2019) | Arthur Donaldson, born 18 February 1977, of Parkmore, Knockmenagh, Craigavon BT64 2AF – failed to seek veterinary care for his dog’s (unexplained) head injury.

Dog abused and neglected by Arthur Donaldson of Craigavon, Northern Ireland
Arthur Donaldson failed to get treatment for his dog’s head injury. The cause of the injury has not been established.

Donaldson was convicted of failing to ensure the welfare of an unnamed 19-month-old female German Shepherd in his care.

The case against Donaldson was heard at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 18, 2019.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council brought the case against Donaldson under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 following a report from a member of the public who was concerned about the dog’s welfare.

An Animal Welfare Officer visited the defendant’s property in July 2017 and spoke to him regarding a head injury the dog had sustained.

He was then advised to ensure the dog received veterinary treatment as a matter of urgency which he failed to do.

The Animal Welfare Officer later returned to the property with a veterinary surgeon who assessed the dog as being likely to suffer as the wound had become infected. The dog was taken into the care of the council and subsequently rehomed.

Sentencing | fined £500 and ordered to pay a further £424 in fees.

ArmaghI

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Lurgan, County Armagh: Kyle Keegan

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#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

Dogs, Lifers

Portadown, County Armagh: Eamonn Keegan

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CONVICTED (2018) | Eamonn Keegan, born c. 1981, of Charles Street, Portadown, Craigavon BT62 – tied up and neglected his dog while he went on an alcohol binge.

Eamonn Keegan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.

It was heard that on April 22, 2018, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier was found at the back of the defendant’s home in Portadown.

The dog appeared malnourished and had an injury to his left eye.

He was tied by 1.5-metre of chain to a squalid kennel and had no access to food or water.

The Staffy was taken by the local dog warden as he was in need of urgent medical attention.

A veterinarian concluded that the dog had been enduring the ulceration to his left eye for some time and was severely underweight.

When interviewed, Keegan stated that he had been treating the eye ailment himself.

Defence solicitor John McAtamney said: “Mr Keegan has no relevant previous offences, he does have a considerable record but other than a speeding offence in 2015 he has not been before the court since 2005”.

He stated: “This was a case of passive neglect through there not being adequate water and food for the dog, rather than active mistreatment”.

Mr McAtamney explained that Keegan had been drinking for four or five days and had left the dog in a “poor state”.

Adding: “Mr Keegan had been on a binge and had neglected his responsibilities”.

Addressing the eye ulceration, Mr McAtamney stated that the infection dated back to October of 2017.

He commented that the defendant had not been able to afford to take the dog to the vet and so treated it himself with saline drops.

District Judge Bernie Kelly stated: “Whilst I accept that this was a case of passive neglect, I also accept that Mr Keegan deliberately chose to buy alcohol over taking his dog to a vet.

“Anyone who wants to have animals as pets has to be responsible for them.

“Until society recognises this importance, it will not encourage proper responsible pet owners”.

Judge Kelly added: “Animals can’t ring up 999 and ask for help, all they can do is suffer”.

She said that there was only one penalty she could impose as the defendant was sentenced to two months in prison.

Keegan was also told that a lifelong ban was being placed on him keeping animals as pets.

Sentencing: two months in jail (later reduced to probation on appeal). A lifetime ban on keeping animals.

armaghi.com

Dogs

Lurgan, County Armagh: Sarah Currie

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CONVICTED (2018) | Sarah Elizabeth Currie (believed deceased in December 2021) of 175 Avenue Road, Lurgan, Craigavon BT66 7BJ – failed to ensure the welfare of a dog in her care.

A case was brought against Currie by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 following an investigation by an Animal Welfare Officer.

The officer visited  Currie’s property at Avenue Road in November 2016 and discovered a dog being kept in poor conditions.

The dog was later taken into the care of the Council upon the advice of a veterinary surgeon, who having assessed his health and the conditions in which he was being kept, determined the animal was likely to suffer.

A council spokesperson commented: “This ruling will hopefully serve as a reminder that anyone who owns a pet, must take proper steps to care for them, as required under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.

“The Council will take action against anyone found failing to ensure the welfare of an animal, and if necessary, they will be taken before the courts and dealt with accordingly.”

Sentencing:
£100 fine; legal costs. Five year ban on keeping animals (expired October 2023).

ArmaghI