Cruel badger baiting in focus following Kennedy sentencing

Police had previously been contacted with complaints raised about dogs in a distressed state at the property. 
 
On March 7, 2023, officers from the from Erne West Neighbourhood policing team attended at the scene.

What they found in that remote property was disturbing. 
 
Gaining entry, the first thing officers witnessed were two dogs, cruelly locked inside Kennels. 
 
Further inspection revealed other chilling discoveries; both dogs had substantial woulds to their muzzels and face. 

Worryingly, the wounds did not appear to be fresh. 
 
The investigation continued at that property, and nearby, a third dog was found, this time with fresh wounds to its face. 
 
Every drop of blood brought police closer to confirming their worst fears; they suspected that dogs had been involved in fighting. 
 
All three dogs were seized by officers, and later taken into care. They never had to return to that house of horrors in Bellanaleck, having since been rehomed to loving families. 
 
On the same day, the dog's 'owner' Jason Lee Kennedy, then 34, was placed under arrest, suspected of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, and fighting offences. 
  
These dramatic events and subsequent arrest was the culmination of a behind-the-scenes investigation that has been instigated by a number of animal welfare groups. 
 
Since 2021, Kennedy had been on the radar of the campaign group, Naturewatch, for suspected badger crime and abusing dogs, and in the same year, the group had brought him to the attention of police. 

The group suspected that Kennedy was involved in 'badger baiting', a gruesome crime that involves the digging out and killing of badgers, a protected species in Northern Ireland. 
 
Dogs often wearing radio collars are sent into a sett, and once a badger has been located the offenders dig down until they reach the dog and badger. 
 
The badger is then pulled from the sett, often disabled and thrown to the dogs which are allowed to kill it. Both dogs and badgers suffer horrific injuries, often proving fatal.
 
'Investigation' 

Kennedy was brought before the local Magistrate's Court in Enniskillen, seven miles from Ross Road. 
 
He initially faced 18 charges involving six counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, causing or attempting to cause an animal fight, and being present at an animal fight.

Offending was alleged to have occurred on both June 28 and July 4, 2022. 
 
During that early hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charges against him. 

He was remanded on bail, and Kennedy was placed under strict bail conditions, including a curfew, being banned from the possession of any animal, and attending any hunting-related activities. 

The case was mentioned roughly every four weeks as it moved through the Magistrates Court.
 
Around 10 months on from that first hearing, Kennedy appeared at Dungannon Crown Court, but denied culpability for all 18 charges. 
 
In April 7, he breached strict bail conditions in a most flagrant manner. 

According to police, they received a report shortly after 1am that Kennedy had been “seen in a bar and making comments about killing a cat.”
 
Officers attended his home and while there, a taxi pulled up at 2am from which Kennedy got out. He was again arrested, but was re-released with a warning after appearing in court.
 
At a later hearing, Kennedy switched his position in relation to the charges. 

He finally admitted to a condensed catalogue of offences, including causing suffering to a cat, a badger, and causing animals to fight. 
 
'Disturbing' 
 
As the trial progressed, it soon became clear to all involved that the subject matter of some of the charges was gut-wrenching. 
 
In one hearing, Prosecution counsel, Simon Reid, ominously informed the court that video footage of the cruelty was “understood to be quite distressing”.
 
It was only when they were viewed was the true extent of the cruelty revealed.  
 
Judge Fiona Bagnal shook her head in disgust as she heard of the shocking incidents which were captured on 12 videos. 
 
Many of the details are too severe to report; however in basic terms a number of cats were mauled to death after being put into pens with groups of dogs.
 
In another a badger was “dragged by a rope” into a pen where nine dogs set about a vicious attack. 
 
The badger is heard squealing in pain and distress, “Yet no-one sought to intervene at any time.”
 
All animals used in baiting were either mauled to death or severely injured, and some of the dogs also had extensive wounds sustained through fighting.
 
Disturbingly, an out-of-court source revealed that Kennedy, like many badger baiters, was wary of posting videos online of badger baiting; but was happy to share this video of dogs attacking a fox, which is not a protected species.
 
"This is a disturbing case of the most cruel type," said Judge Bagnal, during a sentencing hearing at Newry Courthouse last week. 
 
"The violence was gratuitous and the animals clearly suffered prolonged agonising deaths. 
 
"These were planned gatherings. I find it impossible to understand how any human being could set up the circumstances for such cruelty on helpless animals.”
 
The Judge continued: “He also videoed the gruesome incidents to show his friends, which further demonstrates everything about his behaviour is repugnant."
 
And the Judge went further, describing the incidents as a  "sadistic and cruel sport." 
 
"I do not have to set out just how badly those poor animals suffered.”
 
Kennedy was sentenced to a 13-and-a-half month prison sentence, and 13-and-half-months on licence. He was also hit with a ten-year ban from keeping animals.
 
'Victory'
 
The ruling proved a victory for the animal welfare groups that initially flagged Kennedy for these vile acts, including the USPCA, Naturewatch and League Against Cruel Sports. 
 
However, questions have been raised about the response to police following the reports. 
 
One group,  Naturewatch, said they were "disappointed with the delay" in enforcement actions. This, they argued, saw more animals needlessly suffer.
 
"Our investigation into Jason Kennedy and suspected badger crime and abused dogs dates back to 2021, when we brought Kennedy to the attention of PSNI," said Kate Salmon, following Kennedy's sentencing. 
 
"We welcome the most recent action taken by PSNI, however we remain disappointed with the delay. 
 
“We believe that the lengthy period between initial awareness of Kennedy's actions and the eventual enforcement action has sadly resulted in the suffering of many animals."
 
At present, prosecution and conviction rates for wildlife crimes remain low. 
 
However, USPCA Chief Executive, Nora Smith, revealed that Kennedy was just one of 150 people who have been investigated for badger baiting offences. 
 
“Through our own investigations, we have identified more than 150 offenders who participate in this monstrous crime," she said. 
 
"We were relieved to see this individual (Kennedy) arrested by the PSNI last March, and hope that more of these individuals are brought before the courts."
 
Unfortunately, thousands of badgers are likely to suffer in the coming 'badger baiting' season, which generally runs from September to March. During this time, Smith said, badgers are "terrorised".
 
"It is heartbreaking to know that at least 2,500 defenceless badgers are persecuted and die in such an horrific way every year," she said. 
 
Smith cites stronger enforcement action by police, tougher sentencing and legislation against hunting with dogs as ways that these "barbaric crimes" can be stopped. 
 
She also hopes that the recent sentencing of Kennedy will send out a clear message to perpetrators.
 
“When more of these individuals are brought to justice, it sends out a message that we as a society will not tolerate such depraved acts of animal cruelty," she concluded.