JOHN FRAME MURRAY AND SON JOHN MURRAY BANNED IN LARKHALL BADGER BAITING CRIME

John Frame Murray, born on November 9, 1956, residing at 119 Avon Road in Larkhall, along with his son, John Murray, born on January 6, 1980, of 18 Earn Gardens in the same town, became the focus of a serious criminal case involving animal cruelty and illegal hunting activities. Both men had previously been convicted in 2014 for their involvement in badger baiting, a brutal practice that involves using dogs to hunt and harm badgers, and were subsequently handed a ten-year ban on keeping dogs. However, within just three years of this court order, they were found to have violated the ban, raising concerns about their ongoing involvement in illegal animal activities.

In March 2014, the father and son, often referred to as the 'Murrays,' were convicted after a trial that revealed their participation in digging into and damaging a badger sett. The court heard that their actions were carried out with the intent to use dogs to take or kill badgers, a practice strictly prohibited under Scottish law. Evidence presented during the trial included the discovery of dogs with severe injuries, such as torn lips and missing teeth, which were consistent with injuries sustained during confrontations with badgers. Investigators recovered two Patterdale terriers and a blue brindle Staffordshire bull terrier from the Murrays' homes, all of which exhibited significant injuries to their lower jaws, lips, noses, and teeth, indicating repeated use in confrontations with badgers.

The illegal activities came to light after witnesses observed and photographed the Murrays digging into what was suspected to be a badger sett at Drummond Hill near Sandilands, Lanark, on February 2, 2012. The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) responded to the reports and visited the site, where they confirmed the presence of an active badger sett that had been recently disturbed. The investigation uncovered not only the illegal digging but also other disturbing practices, such as trapping cats and foxes in wheelie bins, which the Murrays then set their dogs upon, further illustrating their cruelty towards animals.

Prosecutor Sara Shaw, representing the wildlife and environment sector, emphasized the cruelty involved, stating, “The intentions of these men were cruel, unkind and wholly illegal. The law protects badgers from harm as well as dogs from being used for fighting. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will continue to work to ensure anyone who breaks the law is brought to justice.”

The court found the Murrays guilty of three charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, including attempting to kill, injure, or take a badger, damaging the badger sett by digging into its tunnels, and interfering with the sett by causing a dog to enter it. Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn described the investigation as complex and resource-intensive, involving forensic work and collaboration with various agencies. He highlighted the injuries sustained by the seized dogs, noting the severity of their wounds and the suffering inflicted upon them. Flynn expressed satisfaction that the dogs would now be rehomed in loving environments, emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to combat such barbaric activities.

Animal protection charity OneKind also expressed approval of the sentence, with spokeswoman Louise Robertson stating, “Badger baiting is such a cruel and violent form of animal abuse that it is natural to expect a custodial sentence in these circumstances. While a jail term would have sent a clear message that pitting animals against each other to fight in such a primitive and barbaric way is totally unacceptable, 250 hours of community service does indicate the court has taken the matter seriously. We are pleased both men have been banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.”

The court ordered both John Murray and his son to complete 250 hours of unpaid community service each and imposed a ban on them from owning or keeping dogs for a period of ten years, which was set to expire in April 2024. This case drew significant attention, highlighting the ongoing issues of illegal animal cruelty in the Larkhall area and the efforts of authorities to combat such practices. Despite the conviction and the ban, concerns persisted about the Murrays’ continued involvement in illegal activities, especially after reports in August 2017 indicated that the Scottish SPCA had seized five lurcher-type dogs from their property following a tip-off. The dogs were rehomed, but fears remained that the Murrays might still be involved in unlawful activities related to animal cruelty.

Police Scotland confirmed that a report had been submitted to the procurator fiscal regarding alleged offences under the Protection of Badgers Act and a disqualification order against the Murrays. An undercover Scottish SPCA inspector indicated that authorities responded to an address in Larkhall to assist police in investigating the pair, who had previously received a ban from keeping dogs. However, no further updates on this investigation have been publicly available, leaving questions about whether the Murrays continued their activities or faced additional charges.