Tag Archives: Newry

Dogs, Hoarders, Worst of the Worst

Banbridge, County Down: Stephanie McLoughlin

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CONVICTED (2023) | Stephanie Denise McLoughlin, born 8 December 1969, formerly of Barcroft Park, Drumalane, Newry BT35 8ES and now Church Street, Banbridge BT32 4AA – kept eight dogs in such an appalling condition six of them had to be put to sleep.

Animal hoarder Stephanie McLoughlin previously of Newry, now Banbridge, County Down. Image: Facebook.

McLoughlin, whose previous convictions include criminal damage and drink-driving, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to dogs in her care and for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare needs of the animals were being met.

The charges were brought by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 after a report concerning the welfare of dogs kept at the property.

Six of Stephanie McLoughlin's eight dogs were put to sleep on humane grounds
Six of Stephanie McLoughlin’s eight dogs were put to sleep on humane grounds

An Animal Welfare Officer visited the property on June 28, 2021 observing one terrier type dog at the rear and three terrier type dogs on the living room windowsill.

All animals appeared to be in poor condition displaying obvious chronic skin conditions.

McLoughlin became abusive, refused to allow the officer access, and proceeded to remove three dogs from the property. PSNI officers had to be called to assist and facilitate the investigation to continue.

All dogs were kept in atrocious conditions by Newry woman Stephanie McLoughlin

Upon gaining entry to the property, the Council’s Animal Welfare Officer found extremely unhygienic conditions, floors littered with canine faecal matter, discarded waste materials, tin cans displaying evidence of canine bite marks and a strong smell of ammonia gas associated with canine urine and excrement.

The Council’s contracted vet assessed the animals and the environment they were being kept in and determined that all dogs were to be removed from the property.

The vet certified a total of eight dogs to be taken into the Council’s possession. The dogs required immediate veterinary attention.

Six dogs were found to be suffering from severe inflammatory parasitic skin disease which had been ongoing for a long period, the severity of which led to the dogs having to be humanely destroyed for their own welfare.

The remaining two dogs were able to be rehomed by the Council.

Sentencing | two-year conditional discharge; fined £250 and ordered to pay £176 legal costs and £15 offenders levy. 10-year disqualification order applicable to all animals.

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Dogs

Belleeks, County Armagh: Jamie Gallogly

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CONVICTED (2022) | violent ‘gangster’ Jamie Gallogly, born c. 1994, of Main Street, Belleeks, Newry BT35 7PH – kept seven starving dogs in squalor.

Serial animal abuser Gallogly, who is a known associate of an ultra-violent organised crime gang led by the Dublin-based Shebani brothers, was found guilty of one animal welfare offence.

The case was brought by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council after its animal welfare department received a complaint concerning the welfare of dogs at Cortamlat Road, Newtownhamilton, Newry.

The dogs’ living accommodation was described as “extremely unhygienic”.

Outside pens were covered in faecal matter and urine. No clean or dry bedding and no fresh food or water were available.

The inside of the property was also heavily contaminated with dog faeces and urine resulting in a strong, heavy smell of urine throughout.

The officer said the chewing of doors and furniture indicated signs of the animals’ prolonged stress and presented ingestion hazards.

A vet assessed the environment and determined the dogs were suffering. They were therefore removed from the property by the animal welfare officers.

The court was also told Gallogly had been the subject of previous animal welfare investigations and repeatedly failed to provide and maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals.

Sentencing | ordered to pay a fine of £350 and costs totalling £7,072. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires October 2027).

ArmaghI

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

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking

Newry, County Down: Harrison MacUillin

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CONVICTED (2018) | Harrison MacUillin (aka Harry McQuillan), born 26 July 1995, of Warrenpoint Road, Newry BT34 2PN – arranged to have a dog’s ears cropped, leaving her in pain.

Harrison MacUillin

Irresponsible MacUillin, who runs a company named Harry’s Valeting, was convicted on 21 May 2018 in Newry Magistrates Court of offences under Sections 4, 5 and 9 of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.

Charges under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 were brought by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council against MacUillin, in relation to one dog in his care.

He was charged with the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, permitting another person to carry out a prohibited procedure on the dog by cropping the sensitive tissue of the dog’s ears and for failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the dog were being met including protecting the dog from pain, injury and suffering.

The Council received a complaint which alleged that a dog who had her ears cropped had been taken into the USPCA hospital in Newry after she had been found straying.

The animal was taken into the possession of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council by the Animal Welfare Officer and given appropriate veterinary treatment.

The dog was later successfully rehomed after she recovered from her injuries.

Sentencing: fined £600 and ordered to pay costs of £220. Five-year ban on owning animals (expires May 2023).

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council news