Belfast: Two sentenced over puppy smuggling

Two men involvement in an illegal puppy smuggling racket between Northern Ireland and England were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court

A man has been jailed for his involvement in an illegal puppy smuggling racket between Northern Ireland and England.

Mark Anthony Hirst, 46, of Lidgett Lane, Huddersfield, was jailed for four months after admitting a charge of fraud by false representation.

Another man, Sean Oliver McVeigh, 49, of Kinturk Road, Cookstown, received a three-month suspended sentence.

He admitted supplying the dogs to Hirst to be sold illegally in the UK.

McVeigh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

The court heard Hirst was stopped in August 2022 by a DAERA (Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) official at a Belfast Port inspection centre.

It was the prosecution case that Hirst ran a legitimate business called All Star Pet Transport and, under EU laws, he was required to produce transport certificates for each animal he ferried between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.

The official found 58 dogs in Hirst's van, along with a cat which was being legitimately transported to its owner in England

The official found 58 dogs in Hirst's van, along with a cat which was being legitimately transported to its owner in England.

A prosecution barrister said that when the DAERA official checked the certificates they were found to be false.

Passing sentence, Judge Patricia Smyth said the case did not involve "cruelty to animals''.

However, she said, it involved the "deliberate undermining'' of a system of regulation put in place to safeguard the welfare of animals.

'Bogus names and addresses'

The judge outlined how "bogus" names and addresses had been put on certificates.

"You declined to answer any questions during police interviews," she said.

"In response to a direct inquiry from the court, through your counsel you have asserted that you had arranged to meet prospective owners at service stations in England.''

Cockapoos and other high-value breeds were seized in the smuggling sting

The judge said an analysis of Hirst's phone revealed no messages about meeting individuals at service stations to collect the dogs.

"The absence of a plausible explanation for the ultimate destination of these dogs is a matter of concern,'' she said.

"The fraud enabled a profit to be made from animals bred in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which are then sold at a much higher price in other parts of the UK and Scotland."

She added: "The dangers for animal welfare are therefore obvious and a strong message must go out that unlawful practices such as this will not be tolerated by the courts.''

Commenting after sentencing, Det Insp Conor Sweeney said enquiries led police to McVeigh who provided animals to Hirst in order to transport them across the Irish Sea with the intention of selling them.

At a previous hearing a defence lawyer said registered dog breeder McVeigh "was having puppies at his impeccable kennels which he couldn't sell in Northern Ireland''.

Low demand

He added: "There simply wasn't the demand at the time and demand for puppies in Northern Ireland dropped right off once (Covid) lockdown ended.

"There was a much higher demand in England and he knew he could transport dogs over there, get them sold and get paid."

Judge Smyth said McVeigh was before the court with a previous clear record and an "excellent reputation as a dog breeder but your well-earned reputation has now been seriously diminished''.

Det Insp Sweeney said: "We note the custodial sentence handed down today and organised crime gangs will seek to exploit any mechanism for making money that they can.

"We will continue to work with our partner agencies to prevent this type of widespread smuggling and trafficking by organised crime gangs be it drugs, animals, vulnerable persons, firearms or anything else."