Man accused over pup Sparky’s brutal death prepares to stand trial

A MAN accused of beating a puppy to death with a hammer will stand before a jury, accused of animal cruelty, a judge ordered.

Kyle Keegan appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to the alleged incident in February.

The 23-year-old confirmed he was aware of the single count against him and that he had no objections to the holding of a preliminary enquiry (PE) — the legal process necessary to move a case to the Crown Court.

In cases of animal cruelty, the maximum sentence in the Magistrates Court is 12 months; in the Crown Court it is five years.

Keegan, from Gilpins Manor in Lurgan, is in custody charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the pup, called Sparky, on February 3 this year.

Previous court hearings have heard how the dog’s bloodied remains were found in a bin in the Ailsbury Park area of Lurgan after a house party. An initial post mortem revealed Sparky had sustained a number of fractures as well as severe brain trauma.

There have also been allegations that the 11-week-old pup was microwaved, and detectives investigating the case have sent samples to Scotland for testing.

Police also conducted enquiries with social media outlets after claims the alleged incident was broadcast online.

Judge Bernie Kelly previously commented that in her almost 40-year legal career: “I have nev- er in my life come across something as cruel as what’s alleged” against Keegan.

In court yesterday, the prosecution lawyer submitted that based on the papers and statements before the court, there was a case against Keegan for him to answer. Defendant Kyle Keegan has been remanded to stand trial in the Crown Court, accused of causing unnecessary suffering to Sparky the pup, above, whose body was found in a bin after a house party in Lurgan

Defence barrister Barry McKenna said he had no contrary submissions but revealed that despite the allegation that Sparky had been put in a microwave, there was “no evidence” of that in the PE papers.

Judge Kelly told the barrister, however, there was nothing to stop the prosecution introducing further evidence but that was for another day so he “shouldn’t get too excited yet”.

She added that she had been shown the photographs of the dog before the case had even started as they had made their way onto Facebook.

Keegan, whose parents sat in the public gallery, was told he had the right to comment on the charge or call evidence on his own behalf but he declined the opportunity.

Remanding Keegan back into custody, Judge Kelly returned the case to Craigavon Crown Court for trial. The Judge ordered the defendant to appear in the higher court for his arraignment on November 8.