ALESHA MCLAVERTY'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN ANTRIM: PUPPY LEFT TO STARVE AND HANGING FROM BLINDS

Aleshia Frances McLaverty, born on October 1, 1992, and residing at 226 Islandbawn Drive in Antrim, has been found guilty of heinous animal cruelty after the tragic discovery of a five-month-old puppy's lifeless body in her flat. The puppy, a Labrador cross affectionately known as Sam, was found in a state of extreme neglect, hanging from blinds in a squalid environment that shocked animal welfare officers and the local community alike.

Animal welfare officers responded to a distress call after a member of the public reported the presence of a dead dog at the property. Upon entering the flat located in the Greystone estate of Antrim, they were met with a pungent smell that filled the house, which was also infested with flies. The floors were covered with dog feces, and the scene was described as one of utter neglect and cruelty. The officers discovered Sam's body hanging upside down from a blind cord, with maggots visible in his mouth and eyes, indicating a prolonged period of suffering.

Further examination revealed that the dog had died from dehydration and starvation. The post-mortem confirmed that Sam had been deprived of food and water, and evidence suggested he had been trying to escape his torment by attempting to jump through a window in his final moments. Tragically, he became entangled in the blinds, which ultimately led to his death.

Malcolm Irvine, representing the prosecution on behalf of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, detailed the horrific conditions found in the flat. He explained that there was no food available for the dog, and the dry toilet bowl indicated that Sam had been drinking from it, a sign of extreme desperation. Scratch marks on food packets suggested the dog had been scavenging in a futile attempt to find nourishment.

During police interviews, McLaverty initially claimed that the dog belonged to her sister and that she was not living at the property at the time, as she had gone to stay with her mother. However, she later pleaded guilty in court to charges of permitting unnecessary pain or suffering to a dog under her control, as well as being the keeper of a dog without a valid license.

Her defense lawyer, Aaron Thompson, described the case as a “tragic instance of passive neglect.” He argued that although McLaverty owned the dog, she did not have direct control over him and that the house was effectively abandoned. He explained that she had not resided there for some time, as she had become pregnant and moved in with her mother. Thompson emphasized that McLaverty now lives with her partner and their child, and that she was visibly distressed and emotional during the court proceedings. He also highlighted her good character and clean record, suggesting that her actions were not malicious but rather a tragic consequence of neglect.

Judge Alan White, acknowledging her guilty plea, her clean record, and her status as a new mother, sentenced McLaverty to a two-month jail term, suspended for two years. Additionally, she was banned from keeping animals for five years, although this ban expired in August 2020. The judge also took into account her remorse and the circumstances surrounding her case.

Local residents of the Greystone estate expressed their outrage and disgust over the incident. One anonymous resident, who had seen inside the flat, described the scene as disgraceful, recounting that the dog appeared to have been trying to escape through the window when it became entangled in the blinds. The resident also noted tufts of hair left on the blinds and the overwhelming presence of dog feces throughout the house, underscoring the severity of the neglect.

In summary, this case has shocked the community and highlighted the importance of animal welfare and responsibility. Aleshia McLaverty’s actions, which led to the suffering and death of an innocent puppy, have been met with widespread condemnation, and her sentencing reflects the gravity of her cruelty.