Tag Archives: Mourne and Down

Animal Abandonment, animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Rathfriland, County Down: Paul Reavey

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CONVICTED (2021) | Paul Michael Reavey, born 9 July 1967, of 23 Lisnaree Road, Rathfriland, Newry BT34 5DX – pleaded guilty to causing suffering to a young Patterdale terrier with horrific facial injuries

Image credit: Sunday World

The charges against Paul Reavey arose when the USPCA responded to a complaint received from a concerned member of the public in June 2019.

On arrival to the scene of an alleged sett disturbance, the USPCA found an injured terrier type dog in great distress, appearing to have been left behind underground by her owner, Reavey.

The dog was in a horrific state, covered in muck, soaking wet and suffering from severe facial wounds.
The abandoned terrier was covered in mud, soaked through and in pain from severe facial wounds.

The young dog was seized by the PSNI at the scene and taken to the USPCA animal hospital to be examined by the veterinary team and for the provision of pain relief for her severe facial wounds.

The court heard that the terrier’s injuries were ‘undeniably consistent’ with badger baiting.

Further investigations by the USPCA and NI Badger Group confirmed that this was an active badger sett.

The charge of damaging or destroying a badger’s sett was, however, withdrawn by the prosecution to avoid the case going to trial.

The dog survived her injuries and has since been rehomed.

Reavey was given a custodial sentence, but his defence immediately lodged an appeal. He was released on bail of £500 pending the appeal hearing.

Sentencing: four months in prison; £750 fine. 10-year ban on keeping animals (expires May 2031).

Newry Times
County Down Outlook

Update 21 June 2021

The Sunday World reported that Judge Gordon Kerr QC of the County Appeal Court in Newry overturned Reavey’s jail sentence.

Instead Reavey’s jail term was suspended for two years. His 10-year ban on keeping animals was uphed.

A defence lawyer for Reavey argued that with a background of fostering and adopting children, “the court could consider adopting a different course” than sending him straight to jail.

Judge Kerr said: “It seems to me that there are exceptional personal circumstances that would allow me to suspend the sentence” for two years”.

The judge warned that if Reavey reoffended or had “anything to do with animals,” he would be liable to serve that sentence.

Dogs, Lifers, Traveller Animal Crimes, Worst of the Worst

Forkhill, Newry: Thomas Mongan

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CONVICTED (2021) | Thomas Gerard Mongan, born 6 November 1964, of 27A Park Urney, Forkhill, Newry BT35 9WF – for the appalling neglect of a dog found in a state of distress

The dog was in a state of distress after being found in a dire condition by council animal welfare officers
The dog was in a state of distress after being found in a dire condition by council animal welfare officers

The distressed dog was found in a desperate condition after being effectively abandoned by his callous owner, traveller Thomas Mongan. He had been left to lie in his own faeces which had caused severe matting to his coat and was also suffering urine scalding. He also had to have a tooth extracted.

Vets had to sedate the dog to shave his coat due to the extreme matting that was present. This was caused by a build-up of faecal matter and a lack of grooming.

Following legal action by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Mongan was found guilty of failing to ensure the welfare of a dog in his care and causing it unnecessary suffering. The defendant did not appear in court and the case was proven in his absence.

Sentencing: fined £500 for each of the two charges plus a total of £210 in costs and fees. He was banned from keeping any animal for life.

ArmaghI

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Newry, County Down: Joseph Magee

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CONVICTED (2021) | Joseph Patrick Magee, born 12 August 1987, of St Marys Street, Newry BT34 2AA – struck a guide dog and assaulted her owner

Magee, who has a lengthy criminal record, was sent to prison for seven months, after admitting the attack on the 73-year-old partially sighted man and his dog, alongside theft charges.

Sentencing Magee the deputy district judge told him: “This partially sighted man did not know what to expect at his door. He did not expect to be assaulted.

“He did not expect his guide dog to be struck in the belly, all in the presence of his wife. You have a very bad criminal record. It would appear everything else has been tried and a custodial sentence is appropriate in this case.”

Armagh I

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Bessbrook, County Armagh: Kevin Doyle

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CONVICTED (2019) | Kevin Doyle, born 31 July 1991, of Carrick Vista, Bessbrook, Newry BT35 7BZ – left a starving husky to starve and live in her own faeces.

Dog abuser Kevin Doyle from Bessbrook, Newry, and his victim
Dog abuser Kevin Doyle from Bessbrook, Newry, and the unnamed victim of his cruelty and neglect

Doyle, who failed to appear in court for a third time, was convicted in his absence of animal cruelty.

A case was brought against Doyle by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council following a complaint received in March 2018 concerning a dog who was being kept in unsuitable conditions.

Doyle was charged with the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal and for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare needs of the animal were being met.

Dog abuser Kevin Doyle from Bessbrook, Newry,
Dog abuser Kevin Doyle from Bessbrook, Newry,

Following a report from a member of the public, the Animal Welfare Officer visited the property on March 28, 2018 and found a dog in the corner of a room surrounded by substantial amounts of faeces and household rubbish.

The dog appeared to be very thin with her ribcage and hipbones clearly visible.

A veterinary surgeon examined the dog at the property and deemed her to be suffering. The animal was taken into the possession of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council by the Animal Welfare Officer.

The dog has recovered and been rehomed.

Sentencing | fines of £250 on each charge. Five-year disqualification order (expires June 2024).

Armagh I

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Small Furries, Worst of the Worst

Newry, County Down: Richard Crozier

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CONVICTED (2018) | Richard Crozier of Annsville, Newry BT34 1AB – for a catalogue of neglect towards  five adult dogs, four dependant pups and four ferrets in his care.

Animal abuser: Richard Crozier from Newry, Northern Ireland. Pic: Facebook

A case was brought against Crozier by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council following a complaint about the condition of animals living at his home.

Crozier's dog was found dead i her kennel

When council animal welfare officers visited Crozier’s home on March 4, 2016 they found the conditions in which the animals were being kept to be “appalling”.

Sadly, a lurcher-type dog had already died. The dog, who was wearing a muzzle, was chained to a kennel.  He had several open wounds on his legs and was skeletal. A post mortem found that the dog was severely emaciated.

The animals were all deemed to be suffering and were taken into the possession of the council.

Animal abuser: Richard Crozier from Newry, Northern Ireland. Pic: Facebook

In court, Crozier pleaded guilty to all four charges which were brought by the council under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Sentencing: 
Total fines of £1000. Disqualified from keeping animals for just five years (expires November 2023).

ArmaghI

farms / smallholdings, Food Production

Silverbridge, County Armagh: John Thomas Sean Murphy

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CONVICTED (2018) | farmer John Thomas Sean Murphy, born c. 1958, of Carnally Road, Silverbridge, Newry BT35 9LY – convicted of a series of animal welfare charges.

Murphy, who also has a conviction for the harassment of his ex wife, had been charged with failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal were met, failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to bovine animals and failing to hold a carcass that had not been slaughtered for human consumption, pending consignment or disposal in such a manner as to ensure no animal or bird would have access to it.

Murphy was fined £2,500, and given a three month jail term suspended for two years.

He was also disqualified from owning, keeping, participating in keeping animals and being party to an arrangement under which that person is entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are kept, from dealing in animals, transporting and arranging for the transport of animals for two years.

Farming Life
Belfast Live