CONVICTED (2024) | notorious puppy farmer Eugene Daly, born 6 April 1982, of 88 Derryfubble Road, Dungannon BT71 7PW – transported very young and unwell puppies from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Company director Eugene Daly, operator of a dog breeding establishment (DBE) licensed for over 200 dogs by Mid-Ulster Council, was fined after admitting to a charge of ‘transporting a dog not fit for the journey’. The paperwork held by Daly was also inaccurate and fraudulent.
Daly, sole director of Hillside Kennels Ltd and Daly Transport Ltd, was prosecuted after a consignment of his puppies was stopped and examined at Belfast Port.
Puppy farmer and transporter Eugene Daly is pictured with dog groomer girlfriend Sandra Millar who is alleged to sell puppies on his behalf
The case arose as part of Operation Paws for Thought, a multi-agency initiative led by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) aimed at clamping down on the low-welfare trafficking of puppies between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Checks carried out on exports made by Daly discovered that destination addresses held for the puppies were false.
Veterinary examination of the puppies found that some of them were not eight weeks old.
Many seemed poorly socialised, had extended tummies and a pot-bellied appearance consistent with worm infestation.
The bedding in the cages appeared wet and quite heavily soiled. This contradicted Daly’s assertion that the puppies had only been loaded less than two hours previously.
Daly pleaded guilty and was fined £400 plus £15 offender levy.
Daly’s partner is Sandra Millar of Stiloga Road, Eglish, Dungannon BT71 7QH. According to the anti puppy farming campaign group Do Better DoneDeal Millar, a dog groomer trading under the name Happy Tails, sells farmed puppies on her boyfriend’s behalf, while lying that they are home-bred.
CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal abuser Liam Reece Aiden Swift, born c. 2001, of McCrea Park, Clogher BT76 0AE – killed two dogs and is suspected of the brutal slaying of a third.
Violent career criminal Liam Swift admitted cruelty offences after two dogs were found dead.
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog on October 5, 2023, then to another dog on November 12, 2023.
Swift was under investigation for the death of a third dog who had been found with “horrific injuries” several months beforehand.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard how Swift was arrested over a bail breach on November 11 and, because police knew he owned a dog, they attended his home to ensure she had food and water.
Officers found faeces everywhere and, when the dog didn’t appear, they began checking rooms.
The dog was discovered dead on a pile of rubbish in a cupboard, a chain tightly wrapped around her neck, cutting into the skin.
Then on November 15 police learned there was a second dead dog hidden in a hedge near Swift’s home.
A search revealed the decomposing body of a small dog wrapped in a blanket and placed in a bag.
Swift’s partner confirmed the small dog was hers and she had brought her to Swift’s home on September 23 while staying with him.
She claimed on October 5 another male arrived at the property and ecstasy tablets were produced, which fell on the floor, with her unnamed dog ingesting them.
The dog “became hyper” then fell asleep. However, she later noticed the dog was very wet and asked Swift if he had thrown water over her, which he denied.
The partner left the house for a time but later received a call from Swift claiming he couldn’t waken the dog and she “was in a bad way”.
On return she found the animal “cold and dead”.
She wrapped the dog in a blanket and the pair went outside to bury her. They had no shovel, however, so left the body in the hedge.
Two weeks after the death of this dog, the defendant purchased another dog, but contacted his partner on November 10 claiming he had run away.
The court heard: “This was the death of two dogs killed inside a month and the third dog within a year.
“There is already a live investigation into the death of another dog he allegedly killed in January 2023. Its injuries were horrific.”
A defence barrister said his client had a troubled and complex background. He said that while Swift had some family support, “that has been significantly displaced, particularly as a result of the visceral reaction from the community to these charges”.
“Those who operate outside the law have indicated to the defendant, in no uncertain terms, that he is not to return to his property in light of the views taken.
“Offending of this type will follow him around for the rest of his life.”
The defence conceded Swift is in breach of two suspended sentences but pointed out that neither relate to animal cruelty.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked: “These dogs died horrible and potentially prolonged deaths. It was extreme cruelty to animals who do not deserve to be treated by anybody like that. Cruelty at its most apparent. It was appalling behaviour.”
The judge concluded: “It is my understanding that I can make the disqualification order banning owning any animal for life and that is what I will do. This man should not be around any animal going forward.”
Sentencing | eight-month custodial for the animal cruelty offences with a further two months added for the previously suspended sentences. Lifetime ban in relation to all animals.
Facebook animal welfare group Northern Ireland’s Voice for the Voiceless were contacted late last year by a Clogher resident after they published details of the Liam Swift’s prosecution. The resident set out in detail the nature of Swift’s cruelty to dogs.
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy smugglers Mark Anthony Hirst, born September 1977, of Lidgett Lane, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield HD8 9AQ* and Oliver Sean McVeigh, born c. 1974, of 65 Kinturk Road, Cookstown BT80 0JD
Breeder Oliver Sean McVeigh (left) colluded with pet transporter Mark Hirst to smuggle animals from Ireland into Britain.
Hirst, sole director of Allstar Pet Transport Limited, and commercial dog breeder McVeigh pleaded guilty to charges in relation to an illegal puppy smuggling racket between Northern Ireland England.
Hirst’s company was a front for an illegal racket where bogus paperwork was used to move dogs from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland to the UK mainland
Hirst was jailed for four months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation, while McVeigh walked free from court with a suspended three-month custodial sentence after he admitted supplying the dogs to Hirst to illegally sell in the UK.
Some of the puppies seized by police from Mark Hirst’s vehicle
The court heard that Hirst was stopped on August 2, 2022, by a DAERA official (Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) at the Duncrue inspection centre which is part of Belfast Port.
The official found 58 dogs in Hirst’s van along with a cat who was being legitimately transported to her owner in England.
The puppies were an assortment of breeds, including golden retriever, cockapoo, miniature terrier, French bull dog, American bull dog, cocker spaniel, roan spaniel and dachshund.
The court heard that Allstar Pet Transport was a “legitimate” business, but under EU laws Hirst was required to produce transport certificates for each animal he ferried between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
When the DAERA official checked the transport certificates for the dogs found in Hirst’s van they were found to be false.
Each certificate must state the origin of the ownership, the place of departure, date and time of departure, the intended place of destination and the expected duration of the journey.
During an earlier court hearing, an investigating detective said the paperwork contained details of those Hirst allegedly met to obtain the animals, but police could only contact one person who stated they did not know him.
“(Some of) these people don’t exist, they are duplicate names and addresses, they are bogus,” he contended.
Searches of the vehicle uncovered vaccination cards completed by a veterinarian based in Co Longford.
The detective said Hirst travelled to Northern Ireland by ferry, drove across the border, and then returned with the animals.
“It is the police case that the defendant is involved as a puppy smuggler,” he alleged.
“He’s involved in moving dogs from the Republic of Ireland over to Great Britain and he is making fraudulent declarations to DAERA in order to obtain his paperwork.
“These dogs are being recovered from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland and documentation is being falsified to suggest they are from Northern Ireland.
The detective described Hirst’s pet transportation business as “a façade to facilitate a criminal enterprise.”
Prosecutor Rosemary Walsh told the court that Hirst “could have run a legitimate business on this day but he was providing false information and it was not possible for the authorities to know where an animal was going. We have no evidence of where the animals were going. Anything could happen to them.”
McVeigh’s lawyer told the court “was having puppies at his impeccable kennels which he couldn’t sell in Northern Ireland”.
He added: “There simply wasn’t the demand at the time and demand for puppies in Northern Ireland dropped right off once (Covid) lockdown ended.
“There was a much higher demand in England and he knew he could transport dogs over there, get them sold and get paid”.
Passing sentence, Belfast Recorder Judge Patricia Smyth said that the case before her did not involve “cruelty to animals” but said that the “absence of a plausible explanation for the ultimate destination of these dogs is a matter of concern”.
She added: “The fraud enabled a profit to be made from animals bred in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland which are then sold at a much higher price in other parts of the UK and Scotland.
“The dangers for animal welfare are therefore obvious and a strong message must go out that unlawful practices such as this will not be tolerated by the courts.”
The Recorder noted that Hirst had previous convictions for drug offences and cautions for dishonesty offences.
Turning to McVeigh, Judge Smyth said his “excellent reputation as a dog breeder … has now been seriously diminished”.
Judge Smyth concluded: “Those who fraudulently attempt to undermine the system put in place to safeguard the welfare of animals are committing a serious offence.”
Sentencing |
Hirst was jailed for four months after admitting a charge of fraud by false representation.
McVeigh received a three-month suspended sentence.He admitted supplying the dogs to Hirst to be sold illegally in the UK and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
*Alternative address for Mark Hirst: Leys Farm, Park Lane, Emley, Huddersfield HD8 9SS.
Hirst’s company Allstar Pet Transport Limited was dissolved in November 2023. This was a reincarnation of a previous company with an identical name, which was dissolved in March 2021.
Hirst was implicated in a 2021 animal cruelty prosecution case after dozens of puppies found crammed into a van travelling on the M6 died with canine Covid. The vehicle, which was being driven by traveller Patrick Stokes of Adventure Lane, West Rainton, Durham, was stopped by police officers who found 46 dehydrated and malnourished dogs inside. Stokes told police he had paid Mark Hirst to transport the animals from Belfast to Cheltenham. He said he had picked the puppies up from Hirst just 45 minutes before being stopped by the police.
Hirst was charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal in his care. He was due to stand trial in September 2021 but the outcome was never reported.
In June 2021 Stokes was convicted for his part. Details of the case against him are here.
CONVICTED (2022) | Samuel Ronald Hessin, born c. 1976, and son Samuel Arthur Hessin, born c. 2000, of Balnamoon Farm, Crossroads, Keith AB55 6ND – ran an illegal puppy farm where dozens of disease-ridden dogs were neglected and forced to live in squalor; one dog bred to death.
Puppy farmers Samuel Hessin Jr and Sr, who are pictured during their court appearance, were only given a 10-year ban on owning dogs.
The Hessins, who are originally from Magherafelt in Northern Ireland, were given community sentences and a 10-year ban on owning dogs after running a squalid puppy farm.
The pair posed as legitimate breeders but sold animals who were suffering the effects of mental and physical neglect.
Dozens of dogs were found living in atrocious conditions at the farm when it was raided in a joint operation involving the Scottish SPCA, Moray Council trading standards and Police Scotland.
The raid followed two separate complaints from members of the public. One report came from a woman and her daughter who had gone to view a puppy sold by the pair. The women declined to buy the dog as he looked and smelled “filthy” but alerted the authorities.
Almost 60 dogs were seized in the multi-agency operation but with two of them pregnant, the SSPCA ended up caring for 78 dogs in total. The animal charity was forced to appeal for donations to help cover the costs of caring for the sheer number of rescued dogs.
Puppies were forced to live in filth-infested cages without proper hydration or heat and had e-coli infections, rancid skin conditions and infected sores
Samuel Hessin Sr, who told an SSPCA investigator he believed he had met the animals’ needs by providing them with food water and shelter, averted his eyes as distressing footage was played to the court. This showed litters of Labrador and Staffordshire bull terrier puppies, as well as adult springer spaniels, kept within sparse cages, as well as a number of terrier-type dogs running around a house strewn with litter and with brown streaks on the floor.
Twenty-eight of the dogs were later found to have diarrhoea, including all but one of the youngest puppies.
A two-year-old Staffie was described as having a “grossly swollen” neck and a “large gaping wound” behind her left ear.
Three more dogs were to said to have painful skin conditions, while a further 11 were infected with ear mites.
The dogs were said to be at various locations including Huntly and Buckie as well as Keith.
Bred to death: one dog (bottom right) was pregnant with her third litter of the year and tragically died while giving birth.
The Hessins used fake names and multiple email addresses to advertise the dogs on websites like Gumtree and Freeads.
They pretended they were family pets or their offspring but were actually imported from Northern Ireland.
SSPCA inspectors said that no regard was shown for the animals’ welfare, with many being found with eye, skin and respiratory diseases caused by faecal matter and urine covering the living space. The dogs were also said to be left with little food or ventilation.
One dog was pregnant with her third litter of the year – one more than is allowed in a dog’s lifetime – and died during birth in what was thought to be caused by overbreeding.
All of the remaining dogs were rehomed with loving families
Hessin Sr told investigators he was “only required to provide food, water and shelter” to the dogs in his care, but ultimately admitted cruelty charges.
That cruelty included exposing puppies to faeces, diarrhoea, urine and generally unhygienic conditions. The pups also weren’t given proper ventilation, hydration and warmth and were starved of stimulus, exercise and adequate separation.
Meanwhile, other dogs and puppies were subjected to inadequate birthing conditions and not allowed to “exhibit normal behaviour patterns” – a failure on their owner’s part to protect them from disease, injury and mental and physical suffering.
One puppy in Hessin Snr’s care was found underweight and with bloody diarrhoea. Another was infected with e-coli and a third “smelled filthy” and had private parts encrusted with pus.
He also admitted selling or advertising for sale more than 100 dogs without a licence to do so between December 3 2018 and September 9 2019 and being in possession of 56 dogs for the purpose of sale on the latter date.
Samuel Hessin junior admitted two different charges of misleading trading practices and causing the animals unnecessary suffering.
Balnamoon puppy farm near Keith in Moray
Between June 12 2019 and September 19 2019 he failed to provide proper care and veterinary treatment to 56 dogs and 12 puppies, who were found to be suffering from gastrointestinal, dental, respiratory, skin and parasitic diseases.
Three puppies – named Tiree, Danna and Calla – suffered chronic skin conditions including demodectic mange and bacterial and fungal infections causing hair loss and scaly, reddened and pustulated skin.
Danna needed surgery for her eye condition while another pup named Scarba had fractured teeth, an infected cut on her neck and an ear mite infestation.
The younger Hessin also admitted trading offences whereby he pretended to be selling family-bred dogs which were actually imported animals from Northern Ireland.
Between December 2 2018 and September 9 2019 he listed more than 100 dogs for sale on Gumtree and Freeads websites using 18 different names, 11 different email addresses and 18 different mobile numbers.
He also made misleading statements in the adverts giving the false impression that the dogs were family pets or offspring of family pets, the charge states.
The adverts also misleadingly claimed the animals were in good health and being sold through a legitimate business.
Charges were originally brought against other family members, namely Donna Hessin, born c. 1976, and Rachel Hessin, born c. 1998, but their not guilty pleas were accepted by the court
Many of the dogs have now been rehomed with loving families.
An SSPCA special investigations unit inspector involved in the case said: “These dogs were kept in horrendous conditions which were ripe for causing horrific disease and suffering. After we seized them, vets found many were suffering from a host of skin, eye and respiratory diseases.
“Many dogs were carrying wounds consistent with kennel fights and we are in no doubt this was due to the stress caused by the conditions these poor animals were kept in. The stench of urine, lack of proper bedding and the amount of faeces on the floors and even in amongst what small amount of food was out, clearly showed there was no regard for the welfare of these dogs.
“All of this, combined with the lack of ventilation, meant disease spread with ease among these poor animals. This site was clearly a low-welfare puppy farm.
“Two of the female dogs were pregnant when they came in to our care. Sadly, the birth was just too much for one of them and she passed away during labour. We believe she had been badly overbred and it was her third litter in just one year.”
The charity expressed concern about the sentence, stating that they believe that those running puppy farms should be banned from keeping animals for life.
SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Securing a conviction is a great result, but we believe anyone convicted of running a puppy farm should get a life ban on owning animals. Individuals prepared to put profit before welfare to an extent that dogs get seriously ill should not be allowed to keep animals.”
Sentencing | 300 hours of unpaid work; 18-month supervision order. 10-year bans on keeping dogs.
The Hessin family moved from Ireland to the north-east of Scotland in 2018 for a “better life” and bought the 105-hectare Balnamoon Farm, along with its five-bedroom 1880s farmhouse, for more than £1,050.000.
But with failing finances Samuel Hessin Jnr had taken up a Northern Irish friend’s offer of some dogs to sell on.
The animals were imported to Scotland but the Hessins pretended to buyers that they were family pets or their offspring.
By using fake names and multiple email addresses, the rogue dealers were able to advertise the dogs on websites like Gumtree and Freeads.
The crackdown into their illegal business was codenamed Operation Delphin and involved teams from the SSPCA, Moray Council trading standards and Police Scotland.
Hessin Snr and Hessin Jnr, along with Donna and Rachel Hessin, were charged with posing as legitimate breeders and selling animals who were suffering the effects of mental and physical neglect.
Once charges against the two women were dropped, the father and son accepted responsibility and changed their plea ahead of a trial at Elgin Sheriff Court.
· Samuel Hessin Snr admitted failing to meet the suitable environmental needs of dogs and puppies at Balnamoon between May 31 2019 and September 9 2019.
· Samuel Hessin Jnr admitted two different charges of misleading trading practices and causing the animals unnecessary suffering.
Phones and paperwork seized by Moray Trading Standards showed that between December 3, 2018 and September, 19, 2019 Samuel Hessin Jnr had placed multiple adverts on Gumtree and Freeads under various email addresses and contact names.
He used 18 different names and mobile numbers, 11 email addresses and three separate locations to mislead buyers into thinking they were buying family pets from a family home.
It’s estimated that they had made around £10,000 from the puppy farm operation.
Hessin Snr averted his eyes in the dock as footage of the squalid conditions was played during their sentencing.
His son’s solicitor said the pair’s illegal bidding was an attempt to shore up the “horrific figures” in the account books of the family farm.
The younger man was described as a “bit of a daft lad, not a criminal mastermind” who “just let it get out of hand”.
A potential puppy buyer who reported them thought that was a “pretty pitiful” punishment, given what she saw during her traumatic visit to Balnamoon Farm.
“It’s awful. Of course, they should be in jail,” she said. “From what I saw alone they should have been in jail, never mind what I didn’t see, which was worse.
“It doesn’t seem right that they have only got a ban for 10 years and community service.
“How these poor dogs must have felt and how scared they must have felt … it really breaks my heart.
CONVICTED (2017) | John Yorke, born c. 1956, of 40 Drumlane Road, Maghera BT46 5XE – caused unnecessary suffering to two cows who had to be euthanised
Cruel and negligent farmer John Yorke from Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Farmer John Yorke pleaded guilty to charges involving animal movement, identity and unnecessary suffering.
Yorke failed to notify the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) of cattle movements on to his holding or the birth of three animals, one charge of using an ear tag to identify an animal which had already been used to identify another one and two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to two bovine animals.
The court heard the case arose following a cattle identification inspection and a follow-up investigation of John Yorke’s activities by officers from DAERA’s Welfare and Enforcement Branch.
In addition to cattle identification and movement irregularities, officers discovered two cows in a field in very poor condition.
Both cows were severely emaciated and unable to rise. Birds were pecking at one of the animals. The two cows were euthanised by a veterinary surgeon to prevent further suffering.
Sentencing: fined a total of £1,765.
Source: Mid-Ulster Mail (article removed)
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
