DARREN PRENTER, PATRICK MCGOURTY, AND PADDY SHANNON CAUGHT IN ARDOYNE AND BELFAST HARE COURSING SCANDAL

In a significant crackdown on illegal hare coursing activities, three men from Belfast, namely Darren Prenter, Patrick McGourty, and Paddy Shannon, faced court proceedings after being caught engaging in unlawful activities on County Antrim’s Glenwherry Moor. The incident, which took place on January 22, 2023, has brought renewed attention to the ongoing problem of hare coursing in the region.

Prenter, born on May 25, 1996, and residing at Velsheda Court in Belfast with postcode BT14 7LZ, and McGourty, born on December 27, 1995, from Cranbrook Court, Belfast (postcode BT14 7HA), both admitted to participating in illegal hare coursing as well as committing aggravated trespass during the incident. Paddy Shannon, born on March 17, 1972, and living in Belfast’s Ardoyne area, acknowledged only the charge of aggravated trespass.

Following their guilty pleas, the Public Prosecution Service decided to withdraw charges related to the killing of game and participation in a hare-coursing event, focusing instead on the trespassing and illegal hunting activities. The court was informed that the gamekeeper of the moor had alerted authorities to suspicions of hare coursing, prompting police to investigate the area.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they observed the three men walking across fields with three lurchers and a springer spaniel, claiming they were out walking their dogs. However, during a subsequent search of their vehicle, officers discovered two dead hares. The defendants insisted that they had simply found the hares by the roadside and had no involvement in their killing. Despite their claims, the police issued a formal caution to the men.

The Public Prosecution Service highlighted that hare coursing had been a persistent issue on Glenwherry Moor, a well-known conservation area. District Judge Nigel Broderick remarked that he was familiar with the area, indicating prior dealings with similar cases. The defence acknowledged that the dead hares, which showed puncture wounds, likely died as a result of coursing, but argued there was no concrete evidence linking the animals’ deaths directly to the defendants on the moor.

Judge Broderick expressed skepticism about the defendants’ story, noting that all three men lived in Belfast and had traveled to Ballymena, which is a considerable distance for a simple dog walk. He emphasized the seriousness of their actions, stating, “I take a dim view of this behaviour. It’s an area of conservation, well-maintained, and this was a deliberate act.”

As for the sentencing, Prenter and McGourty received a two-month custodial sentence, which was suspended for three years, reflecting the court’s stance on their involvement. The case against Shannon was adjourned until December 7 for a pre-sentence report, as he was also facing charges related to the incident.

In a subsequent update in December 2023, it was revealed that Patrick Robert Shannon, a career criminal with a record of 156 previous convictions, had been sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for three years. District Judge Nigel Broderick noted that he was leaving “something hanging over his head,” considering Shannon’s extensive criminal history, which includes armed robbery and drug smuggling. Shannon, now residing on Annesley Street in Belfast, had already admitted to aggravated trespass during his appearance at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

This case underscores the ongoing challenge authorities face in combating illegal hare coursing, a practice that not only threatens wildlife but also involves serious criminal activity and breaches of conservation laws in the Belfast and Ardoyne areas.