Animal Torturers Freed By Judge, Leaves Courtroom Taunting Police And Onlookers

Animal torturers found guilty of one of the worst cases of animal abuse in Ireland were freed Thursday after the presiding judge suspended their sentence for two years, Belfast Telegraph reports.

The torturers, Jeremiah Kirkwood, sons Chris and Wayne Kirkwood and family friend Jamie Morrow pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of animal cruelty. They admitted earlier to kidnapping family pets and staging brutal animal fights for entertainment, leading to the suspension of their terms.

Their cruel activities were discovered when videos of the fights began to circulate. Most of the videos were caught using Morrow’s phone camera.

The videos depicted cats and badgers being mauled to death by various vicious animals while watchers, including the Kirkwood family and Morrow, were heard laughing and cheering in the background.

In one video of the torturers, one man could be seen climbing up a tree to push a terrified cat, clinging on one of the branches, down a group of hungry dogs.

When the Kirkwood property was searched, animals, mostly dogs were discovered in unhealthy conditions. Many of them had battle scars, evidence of cruel and barbaric gladiator fights the animals were forced to participate in. Cats were kidnapped by the torturers to feed the blood lust of the snarling canines.

It was revealed that the dogs were conditioned to become always aggressive so they’ll be more effective in mercilessly fighting and killing other animals the torturers pit against them, like cats, deers and foxes.

Jeremiah Kirkwood, the patriarch of the animal torturers, had a number of police encounters since 1984 but mostly only pertained to traffic violations. The 43 year old torturer is also an alcoholic.

His son Wayne has three convictions for causing bodily harm, threats to kill and possession of a weapon

After being released by the judge Thursday, the animal torturers exited the court with smirks on their faces, visibly celebrating the suspension of their prison time.

They waved at the police, onlookers and animal rights activists present outside the courtrooms, overtly expressing their relief over the judge’s decision. Some of them raised their hands in victory.

The police detective who led the investigation of the torturers, Pete Mullan, said that he was disappointed with the outcome of the case.

He added:

“We fully respect the decision of the court but are disappointed nonetheless”

The animal torturers were sentenced to six-months in prison suspended for two years. They will also be prohibited from handling animals for ten years.

For now, the torturers can freely roam as if not guilty of charges.

Was the judge’s decision to free the animal torturers right?

[Photos from Belfast Telegraph]