Tag Archives: Scotland

hedgehogs, Other Mammals, Worst of the Worst

Greenock/Skelmorlie: Gordon Devenish and John Cathcart

November 22, 2007 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2007) | Gordon Devenish, born c. 1966, of West Blackhall Street, Greenock PA15 1UY and John ‘Johnny’ Cathcart, born c. 1969, of Golf Course Road, Skelmorlie PA17 5BH – kicked a hedgehog to death

Johnny Cathcart (left) of Skelmorlie and Gordon Devenish of Greenock used a defenceless hedgehog as a football — Johnny Cathcart (left) and Gordon Devenish used a defenceless hedgehog as a football

Self-employed joiner John Cathcart and his colleague Gordon Devenish kicked a hedgehog to death by using it as a football during a stag weekend. The pair admitted kicking the animal back and forth until it died as a result of its injuries.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie described it as an offensive act of wanton cruelty committed by two grown men.

“You should both be ashamed of yourselves. You are being publicly shamed in the dock today,” he said.

Sheriff McCreadie added: “I have noted that you have paid a sum of money to the SSPCA, possibly in an attempt to salve your conscience.”

Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson told the court that a number of police officers were in the area when they saw Devenish kicking the hedgehog across the road and Cathcart kicking it after him.

“Police then approached both to find out what they were doing,” Mr Richardson said. “The hedgehog was killed.”

Devenish claimed he saw an object lying in the street and decided to use it as a football.

He realised it was a hedgehog but decided to boot it several feet in the air anyway.

Solicitor Mark Alder, defending, said: “Both parties were drinking a large amount of alcohol on the day in question.

“They were out at a friend’s stag party.

“Both now accept responsibility for their actions.”

In his letter pleading guilty to the court, Cathcart said: “I deeply regret what I have done. As an animal lover I feel great remorse.

“I was intoxicated at the time of this offence, although I know this is no excuse for such a stupid and barbaric act.”

Sentencing: Devenish was fined £400 and Cathcart £360.

BBC News

Animal Torture, Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Wishaw, North Lanarkshire: Daniel Devlin

October 26, 2007 misanthropic 2 Comments

#MostEvil | Daniel Devlin, born 07/03/1966, of 33 Greenhead Road, Wishaw ML2 8DJ – stole ex-girlfriend’s dog, poured petrol over him and burned him alive

Dog killer Daniel Devlin from Wishaw — 2018 photo of Daniel Devlin

Deciding he wanted rid of his girlfriend’s cross terrier dog Sam, Devlin stole him, drove to a deserted wood and tied him to a tree with a piece of rope. He then poured petrol over the dog and set him alight.

Sam was found the next day, barely alive and in agony, by a couple out walking

The tiny dog suffered 70% burns to his body and had to be put to sleep.

The court heard how Devlin had callously told a friend “I’ve tortured it, that’s it done”.

The presiding judge noted that Devlin showed no remorse for his actions. It came out later that he had also threatened a witness who was giving evidence at this trial.

Sentence: jailed for seven months. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Daily Record

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

Castlemilk, Glasgow: Stephen Ruane

July 28, 2004 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2004) | Stephen William Ruane, born 20/04/1961, of 56 Castlemilk Crescent, Castlemilk, Glasgow G45 5PH – stabbed his pregnant dog to death and buried her body in woods

Ruane admitted carrying out the attack on the collie bitch after losing his temper in a row with friends.

Although he buried the dog’s body in woodland, he was caught after his girlfriend reported the incident to the animal welfare charity SSPCA.

Sheriff William Holligan said it was a “most barbaric thing to do” and told Ruane that prison was “unavoidable”.

He added: “In my opinion, there is no reasoning for putting an animal in such great distress.”

Glasgow Sheriff Court had heard Ruane had gone with his dog to his partner’s flat in January 2004.

The couple, along with a friend who was also in the house, later became involved in a heated argument.

Ruane then stormed off to the kitchen, where his two-and-a-half-year-old pet was lying on the ground.

Suddenly he grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged the blade up to seven times into the defenceless animal.

The court was told it was very apparent the dog, who was expecting six pups, was in great distress.

Keith O’Malley, prosecuting, said: “The animal was yelping and was in pain from what had happened. It was not long after that it stopped breathing.”

Ruane then grabbed the dog and raced off to nearby woods to bury it.

He later claimed he had been “disgusted” at his behaviour and that it was “disgraceful and inexplicable”.

His legal team appealed for an alternative to jail and that a social work recommendation of anger management classes should be followed.

Sheriff Holligan dismissed the plea and also banned Ruane from owning an animal for the next 10 years.

Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA, said: “We are so pleased that the sheriff has taken this seriously.

“For a first offender, the severity of sentence reflects the severity of the crime.

“Whether you like animals or not, people need to take on board that in domestic violence situations, it is very often the animal that is the first victim.

“This really is an issue that needs to be taken seriously.”

Sentencing: three-month custodial sentence. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expired July 2014).