Man convicted of illegally transporting horses into Scotland
A man from Northern Ireland has been convicted of illegally transporting horses into Scotland and causing the animals unnecessary suffering.
Laurence McAllister, 56, of Doag Road, Kells, County Antrim has been banned from transporting horses for three years and fined £13,500.
“We welcome this outcome, which is the culmination of months of work gathering intelligence on McAllister’s activities,” said Scottish SPCA’s Mike Flynn.
McAllister — who is currently serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence for drug offences — was found guilty of six charges yesterday (30 October) at Stranraer Sheriff Court.
They include causing horses unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary care and adequate farriery and transporting horses without a passport.
He also pled guilty to possessing and importing veterinary prescription medicines.
On two occasions in May and June 2011 McAllister transported unfit horses and donkeys into Scotland from Northern Ireland via Stranraer.
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Undercover Scottish SPCA officers seized10 horses, one foal and two donkeys on his second journey.
“All the animals we found were taken into Scottish SPCA care where they have been recovering from their ordeal. Some of the horses required veterinary treatment for a range of injuries and illnesses,” said Mr Flynn.
“Unfortunately a very young foal that was being transported with his mother had to be put to sleep despite having undergone lengthy specialist veterinary treatment.
“We will ensure that all the surviving animals will be found loving homes with responsible owners.”
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.