A 52-year-old woman has been banned from keeping animals for five years, fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £226.
Sarah Marie McGahan of Belvedere Manor, Lurgan pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences relating to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and its pups.
She was sentenced in Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020.
This followed an investigation in 2018 as a result of information from the public.
Offences
The court heard that 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.
She was deemed to be in breach of a notice requiring her to maintain a clean environment for the animals in her care.
District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Amanda Brady, upon hearing the facts and viewing photographs of the property, imposed a fine of £150, a disqualification order in respect of all animals for a period of five years, and costs of £226 awarded to the council.
‘Flagrantly disregarded animal welfare legislation’
A council spokesperson commented: “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.” the spokesperson concluded.
