NEIL PINKERTON'S BRUTAL ANIMAL CRUELTY IN BELFAST SPARKS OUTRAGE AND CONTROVERSY

Neil Pinkerton, a man notorious for his involvement in fox hunting and alleged badger baiting activities, has once again become the center of public outrage following a series of disturbing incidents in Belfast. Born on March 19, 1988, Pinkerton resides at 26 Clandeboye Street in Belfast, a city where hunting with dogs remains legal, unlike the rest of the United Kingdom.

Pinkerton was previously acquitted in 2018 of cruelty charges related to animal fighting, despite evidence suggesting severe animal abuse. The case involved graphic images and videos posted on a private Facebook group called North Coast Lurchers, where Pinkerton shared footage of his terrier, Judy, engaged in a savage fight with a fox. The footage depicted the fox and Judy locked muzzle to muzzle after being dug out from an underground den, a scene that shocked animal rights advocates and the public alike.

The charges against Pinkerton stemmed from a report by a member of the public who contacted an anti-hunting organization, which subsequently handed over the evidence to police. Pinkerton faced two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to both Judy and the fox on December 28, 2016. Additionally, he was charged with a third count for failing to provide Judy with adequate veterinary care after she was seized from his home on January 25, 2017. Despite the compelling evidence, including video footage of the brutal animal fight, Belfast Crown Court's judge, David McFarland, directed the jury to acquit Pinkerton, citing that the fox had the dog by the muzzle and that no suffering was caused to the fox.

Judge McFarland, who is now a High Court judge, stated that the short duration of the attachment between Judy and the fox meant that no suffering was inflicted. He also referenced a veterinary examination of Judy, which indicated she was in discomfort but only for a brief period. This decision sparked widespread outrage among animal rights groups, including the League Against Cruel Sports NI, who condemned the verdict and expressed their dismay at the outcome.

In April 2018, it was announced that Judy would be returned to Pinkerton, a decision that further enraged advocacy groups. Janice Watts, senior public affairs officer for the League Against Cruel Sports NI, voiced her disgust, stating, “We are appalled and sickened that Judy is being returned to Pinkerton given how she suffered at his hands. The pictures of Judy’s horrific injuries speak for themselves, yet our justice system is allowing her to go back to Pinkerton.” She also praised the police and the League’s efforts to hold Pinkerton accountable.

Pinkerton’s involvement in illegal hunting activities extended beyond this case. He was known to share graphic content on Facebook, boasting about fox kills and encouraging others in the hunting community. In one post, he described a successful hunt, mentioning a fox being dug out and killed, and shared images of dead foxes and injured dogs, captioned with disturbing remarks about the animals’ suffering.

Despite the public outcry, Pinkerton’s activities in Belfast and the surrounding areas have continued to draw attention. In December 2021, a private members’ bill to ban all hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland was defeated, with some politicians arguing that such bans would suppress the natural instincts of dogs. Pinkerton’s social media accounts, including one under the alias Harry John Digging, contained coded language referencing badgers and other protected species, suggesting ongoing involvement in illegal activities.

In 2022, investigations by the USPCA, League Against Cruelty Sports, and Naturewatch revealed that Pinkerton had evaded cruelty charges despite substantial evidence, including photographs, videos, and private chat extracts. Police raided his Belfast home, seizing 12 dogs kept in cages, some with injuries consistent with fighting. Belfast City Council declined to press charges, and Pinkerton’s dogs were returned to him, an act that drew widespread criticism. Pinkerton was also reported to have live-streamed the return of his dogs on Facebook.

Further investigations in October 2022 featured on BBC Northern Ireland’s ‘Spotlight – Hunting with Dogs,’ where evidence from Pinkerton’s social media accounts was presented. The evidence included posts with coded language for badgers and images of dogs with severe facial injuries, indicating possible involvement in badger baiting, a practice illegal and highly controversial in Northern Ireland.

Most recently, in March 2024, Pinkerton faced legal consequences after his dog bit an 11-year-old boy on the leg. He was convicted under Article 29(2) of The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and sentenced to a four-month prison term, suspended for one year. Pinkerton was also ordered to pay £150 in legal and court costs, along with a compensation of £250 to the victim. The court mandated that the dog be destroyed unless kept confined in an enclosure with a muzzle to prevent further bites, and under strict control measures.

Throughout these events, Pinkerton’s name remains synonymous with animal cruelty and illegal hunting activities in Belfast, raising ongoing concerns among animal welfare organizations and the wider community about the persistence of such practices in Northern Ireland.