SALFORD MAN CARL MCQUILLAN SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ANIMAL NEGLECT IN SWINTON

Carl Peter McQuillan, born on September 2, 1987, and residing at Spruce Court in Salford with the postcode M6 5EW, has been found guilty of severe neglect and abandonment of a dog in the Swinton area. The case drew significant attention due to the shocking conditions in which the Staffordshire bull terrier named Cleo was discovered, and the disturbing details of McQuillan’s disregard for the animal’s welfare.

According to court reports, McQuillan openly admitted that he had never given a second thought to Cleo after he moved out of his previous residence to live with his father. This move was prompted by his stepmother’s diagnosis of cancer, which appeared to have contributed to his neglectful attitude. The RSPCA was initially alerted in January 2015 when reports came in about an abandoned dog at his home. However, McQuillan assured authorities that the dog had not been left alone for an extended period, which later proved to be false.

On March 14, 2016, police officers responded to a call on Bolton Road in Swinton, near the Lord Nelson pub, regarding a public order disturbance involving McQuillan. During his arrest, McQuillan told officers that he needed to return home to retrieve medication for a heart condition. It was during this visit that police discovered the neglected dog, who had been left to survive on her own since Christmas time.

Prosecutor Anne McDonald, representing the RSPCA, described the scene inside McQuillan’s residence as utterly appalling. An officer who entered the room was overwhelmed by an intense smell, which made him feel physically sick and breathless. The officer observed that Cleo was in a mummified state, clearly deceased, and appeared to have been left in deplorable conditions. The court was told that the dog’s body was surrounded by faeces and urine, with flies swarming around her.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Cleo had likely died between eight and forty days prior to her discovery. The investigation uncovered a child's shoe in her mouth and other items in her stomach, indicating her desperate attempts to find sustenance in her final days.

McQuillan’s defense lawyer, Michael Cahill, acknowledged that his client “didn’t give the animal a second thought,” highlighting the extent of neglect involved. The judge condemned McQuillan’s actions, describing the case as a “horrendous offence” and emphasizing the clear neglect involved. The court noted that McQuillan had effectively abandoned Cleo around Christmas, and her death in March was a result of prolonged suffering. The judge stated that the dog had tried to eat just about anything in her final days, suffering a miserable death.

In sentencing, McQuillan was ordered to serve 16 weeks in prison for the animal cruelty offence. Additionally, he received a 10-week sentence for assaulting his partner, which was to run consecutively, resulting in a total of 26 weeks of incarceration. The case underscores the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglect, especially in cases involving prolonged suffering and abandonment in the Salford and Swinton areas.