A CO TYRONE woman with animal cruelty convictions has been appointed to a committee which oversee the welfare of horses at Showjumping Ireland.
Aldyth Roulston was selected to sit on the organisation’s veterinary committee – which helps oversee the welfare of animals involved in equestrian sports – earlier this month.
The Donemana woman has also been appointed to Showjumping Ireland’s executive committee, which has overall control over the sport in Ireland.
The USPCA said Roulston’s appointment to the veterinary committee “beggars belief”.
In 2004 Roulston was found guilty of eight charges including cruelty to animals and breaking animal transport laws at Livingston Sheriff Court in Scotland. She had been discovered selling puppies and kittens from the boot of a car.
Investigators from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said pups and kittens had been crammed together for four days while she attended a horse show in Chester before driving to Scotland.
One customer paid £140 for a 10-week-old Lakeland terrier which died soon afterwards. Another bought a kitten which died after six days.
Five charges related to the sale of pets without a licence in public places. Another charge related to commercial transportation of animals and two more related to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.
It was reported at the time that she left the puppies crammed in tiny cages for hours on end as she toured Scotland selling them to unsuspecting families.
She made thousands of pounds selling the dogs and cats to customers she arranged to meet in car parks, garages and lay-bys. The trial judge accused her of “callous disregard” for the animals’ welfare.
There was controversy in 2013 when Roulston was appointed to the Ulster committee of Showjumping Ireland.
On Monday night, USPCA spokesman David Wilson said Roulston should not have been given an animal welfare role at national level.
“It is the view of this charity that a criminal conviction for animal cruelty should exclude the offender from consideration for any position that could impact on animal welfare,” he said.
“The decision by Showjumping Ireland to appoint a convicted offender as a member of its veterinary committee beggars belief.
“The appalling offences were detected and prosecuted in Scotland. If it were in Northern Ireland we would feel justified in calling for a life ban from the keeping of animals.”
Responding to the comments, Roulston said the “incident” took place 14 years ago and the “only sanction” she received was a “modest fine”.
“I have throughout my lifetime been involved with and have kept ponies,” she said.
“I have worked tirelessly on the SJI committee since I was initially voted on by the membership in 2013.
“I devote my time towards the betterment of the sport and helping children get the most out of showjumping.
“My work is carried out on a voluntary basis and I have not during my tenure claimed even expenses. This story is redundant and recycled.”
Roulston said she believes she is being targeted by people with an “agenda”.
“I am disappointed that those for their own agenda are again seeking to use the press to try to discredit me,” she said.
“It is telling that what is being presented as a news story is based on an irrelevant and historic incident which when it was covered by the press in 2013 was already a decade old.”
No-one from Showjumping Ireland was available for comment.
