Newtownabbey mum and son avoid jail for neglect of starving dogs

Nicola O’Neil, 39, and James McWilliams, 20, claimed they had no money to properly look after the nine badly undernourished animals discovered still alive at the house.

O’Neil was handed a four-month suspended sentence, while McWilliams was ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

They were also both banned from owning or keeping any dogs for 10 years.

The pair, of Felden Place in Newtownabbey, admitted failures to ensure the needs of the animals were met.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council was alerted in March 2022 that a dead dog was being eaten by the others

An animal welfare officer who went to the family home discovered a mixture of puppies and full-grown dogs, some severely underweight and kept in filthy pens without access to bedding or water.

“Through the fencing she could see a dead dog on the ground that appeared to be half-eaten,” prosecution counsel said.

Five pups, believed to be American XL Bully breeds, were being held in a crate in the kitchen area, covered in urine and faeces and with their ribs and spines clearly visible.

Some other dogs were in the back garden, close to the dead bull terrier.

Based on post-mortem examination and a lack of blood spattering on the ground, prosecutors believe it had already died when the others began to eat the remains.

All nine living dogs were seized and examined by the council’s vet.

During a further call-out, McWilliams told the welfare officer he did not usually live at the property, but had previously helped his mother take care of the dogs.

He also claimed they were struggling for money to feed the animals.

Counsel added: “Before this incident he was advertising six-week old American XL Bully pups for sale on Facebook, believed to be the five puppies that were seized at the time.

With the costs of caring for the remaining animals now in excess of £2,000, they are all still alive and have gained significant weight since their seizure.

Defence barrister Jonathan Browne acknowledged the circumstances were “deeply unpleasant”.

“Any right-thinking member of the public will find the facts truly abhorrent,” he said.

Mr Browne told the court the dogs had belonged to O’Neil’s husband, who lived elsewhere but came to her home every day to care for them.

But when he died suddenly she was left to look after their four other younger children.

“As a result she neglected to look after the dogs,” the barrister accepted.

He added that McWilliams had an emotional bond with the animals and felt that giving them away would be a disservice to his late father’s memory.

“It’s a romantic notion, but in reality it costs money,” Mr Browne submitted. “He found himself wanting to care for them but financially not able to.”

Urging District Judge George Conner not to send either defendant to jail, Mr Browne predicted they will carry the stigma of offences with them for the rest of their lives.

O’Neil was informed that her four-month custodial sentence will be suspended for a period of one year.

McWilliams was given 100 hours community service as a direct alternative to a prison term.

The mother and son must also pay £250 and £500 respectively towards the care costs in the case.

Judge Conner told them: “For those who enter a responsibility to look after animals, a very high standard (is required).

“Unfortunately in this case you both failed very badly.”