A MAN who bludgeoned his dog to death with a hammer and burnt the remains after it mauled an eight-year-old girl has been jailed for four months.
Belfast Magistrates' Court heard Wayne McGrath inflicted "unimaginable pain" on an American Bulldog-type pet which had left the child scarred and traumatised.
The 47-year-old, of Marsden Gardens in the city, was also banned from keeping any animals for life.
McGrath admitted charges of being the keeper of a dog involved in an attack, and causing it unnecessary suffering.
The girl was bitten and mauled while the animal was off the lead at Kinnaird Avenue, north Belfast in May last year.
Witnessed described seeing the animal shake and trail her by the hair.
McGrath and another man started punching and kicking the dog in a bid to break its hold.
At one point the girl managed to get free but the animal shook off a chain put round its neck and ran off after her.
The two men then managed to grab it by the scruff of the neck while the girl was led to the safety.
The child was taken to hospital for treatment to a puncture mark to her head and a further 15 wounds, bites or slashes to her body, the court heard.
Police questioned McGrath at the scene, before taking him and the dog back to his partner's house.
The next day officers checked to see if he had handed the animal over to the dog warden to be humanely destroyed.
He then confessed to killing the dog with a hammer and then burning the body.
Searches were carried out at his home, but no remains were located.
During interviews he claimed to have carried out the killing at a dump near Ligoniel.
"He admitted killing the dog by hitting it over the crown of the head with a hammer twice, and then putting its remains in a wheelie bin, covering it with copper wire and petrol, and setting the remains and the tools he used on fire," prosecution counsel said.
"He alleged that he received threats to his life, he was under pressure to dispose of the dog and that he had no money to take the dog to a vet to be humanely euthanised."
Further searches at the dump area found no evidence of dog remains or burnt wheelie bins.
According to the prosecution, the animal had been subjected to unnecessary cruelty.
Medical reports disclosed the child still suffers from anxiety and only leaves the house to go to school.
She will not use mirrors due to scars which will require skin grafts when she is older, and is self-conscious about what she wears.
Defence barrister Sean O'Hare acknowledged the shocking circumstances.
He told District Judge George Conner: "This is probably one of the most serious cases you will have to deal within this jurisdiction and within this court."
Mr O'Hare said it was bad enough that McGrath allowed his dog to be off the lead but he said his client's response took it into "another sphere of severity altogether".
According to the barrister McGrath acted out of fear, having received a visit from people connected to an unnamed criminal organisation.
Sentencing McGrath to four months in prison, Mr Conner told him: "This is a terrible case whereby lasting injury has been caused to a young girl.
"Then, the manner in which you dealt with the dog was just quite appalling."
McGrath was released on bail pending an appeal against the jail term imposed. ends