LINDSEY AND SAM KEARNEY FROM WORSLEY SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ANIMAL NEGLECT AND ABUSE

Lindsey Amelia Kearney, born around 1971, and her son Sam Kearney, born approximately in 1993, both residents of Blackleach Drive in Worsley, Manchester, faced severe legal consequences after a shocking case of animal neglect came to light. The incident involved their elderly dog, a collie cross named Barney, who was subjected to unimaginable suffering and ultimately left to die in a state of extreme neglect.

According to reports, the Kearneys abandoned Barney in a distressing condition, neglecting his cries for help as he lay collapsed on the kitchen floor. The dog was trapped beneath an ironing board that was propped across him, and he was left in this agonizing position for at least two days. During this time, Barney was covered in his own urine and faeces, a clear indication of the neglect he endured. The severity of his condition was so profound that veterinary professionals described it as the worst case of neglect they had encountered in over three decades of practice.

Barney’s injuries were devastating. He suffered acid burns all over his body and face, caused by prolonged exposure to his own urine. The situation was so dire that RSPCA officers had to call in an emergency veterinarian to the Kearney residence to euthanize Barney, as moving him would have caused him unbearable pain. The decision was made to put him to sleep to end his suffering.

In court, Lindsey Kearney admitted guilt, while her son Sam Kearney was found guilty after a trial. They faced charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal, which included evidence of poor body condition, significant weight loss, and the collapsed state that contributed to his injuries. The prosecution, led by prosecutor David McCormick, highlighted the gravity of the case, quoting a veterinarian who described it as “truly one of the most severe cases of neglect that I have ever seen in 34 years in this profession.”

McCormick further expressed the emotional toll of the case, stating, “To this, I can add one of the saddest cases I have dealt with in my 40 years as a prosecutor. The defendants had owned Barney for 18 years and yet could leave him to die lying on a hard floor under a table, in a pool of his own urine and with an ironing board propped across him. Sodden in his own urine where he had laid for days. What a sad and undignified end for a pet of 18 years.”

Judge Sam Goozee delivered the sentencing, condemning the defendants’ actions and emphasizing the cruelty inflicted upon Barney. He remarked that the dog, who had been loved as a family pet, was subjected to neglect that led to his painful and undignified death. The judge pointed out the disturbing photographs taken while Barney was still alive, underscoring the severity of the neglect.

As a result of their actions, Lindsey Kearney was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, along with 200 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £300. Sam Kearney received a sentence of 300 hours of unpaid work and a similar fine of £300. Both individuals were also handed a ten-year ban on owning any animals, a restriction that will remain in effect until May 2026. The case has drawn widespread condemnation, highlighting the importance of animal welfare and the need for strict penalties against neglect and cruelty.