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Date: 13 May 2025
Four Belfast residents have been convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court today, Tuesday 13 May 2025, in separate cases brought by Belfast City Council relating to dog control and animal welfare offences.
Aoife McDowell of Bell Steel Manor was sentenced for abandoning and causing unnecessary suffering to a Bully type dog in November 2023.
Following reports that a dog had been left unattended at a property for several days, Belfast City Council’s Animal Welfare Officers entered the home under warrant. The dog had been left alone for at least 72 hours and was subsequently seized.
Ms McDowell was convicted for abandoning the dog and for causing it unnecessary suffering. She received an 8-month custodial sentence for causing unnecessary suffering and a 4-month sentence for abandonment, to run concurrently and suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £400 in costs and disqualified from owning animals for 15 years.
In separate incidents, three men were convicted following incidents involving dogs being out in public off lead and attacking other dogs.
Adam Bell, of Dunseverick Avenue, was prosecuted after an XL Bully type dog he was in charge of attacked another dog at Dunseverick Avenue on 20 August 2024. Mr Bell was convicted and fined £250 for the attack, with a further £150 for allowing the dog to be in public off lead and without a muzzle. He was also ordered to pay legal and court costs of £124.
Martin Bell, also of Dunseverick Avenue, faced similar charges following an attack by an XL Bully type dog he owned on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog at the same location on 10 August 2024. He received the same penalties as Adam Bell – a total fine of £400 and £124 in legal and court costs.
Finally, Colin Rockett of Boyd Street was convicted after his XL Bully type dog attacked a Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog at Malvern Way on 3 September 2024. Mr Rockett was found guilty and fined £150 for the dog attack, £150 for allowing the dog to be in public without a lead and muzzle, and £150 for not having a valid dog licence. He was also ordered to pay a compensation order of £250 and legal and court costs totalling £136.