Newton wants stiffer penalties for abusers

Democratic Unionist, Robin Newton, has called for a crackdown on those that abuse animals after it emerged that only 14 people out of 167 convicted of cruelty in Northern Ireland since 2017 have been sent to gaol.

The east Belfast MLA, who obtained the figures, was speaking in the Assembly recently.

Mr Newton, who is passionate about animals, said that ‘evil people’ who attacked or hurt them should not go unpunished.

‘There must be no tolerance of animal cruelty and that message must be delivered through the courts,’ he warned.

Of those convicted in the last three years, 77 received fines and during 2018, 45 people in Northern Ireland were banned from keeping animals.

The USPCA has called for the establishment of an official register of animal abusers.