DAVID O’TOOLE FROM BIRKENHEAD INVOLVED IN CRUEL ANIMAL ATTACK AND DRUG TRAFFICKING AT EDINBURGH AIRPORT

David Michael O’Toole, born on April 14, 1986, and residing at Birkett Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead CH42 4PR, was involved in a disturbing incident of animal cruelty in 2016. He was found guilty of setting his dog upon his girlfriend’s pet tortoise and subsequently sending her videos of the attack, which caused significant distress and injury to the defenseless animal.

According to court reports, O’Toole could be heard shouting “go on, get him,” repeatedly, as his dog viciously bit into the tortoise’s shell, tearing chunks from it. The owner of the tortoise, Lucy McDonald, was left devastated by the attack. Unable to afford the necessary veterinary treatment for her pet, she was forced to surrender the tortoise to a rescue center. The incident was reported to the police, who responded promptly to O’Toole’s address.

When officers arrived, they discovered the tortoise bleeding with noticeable chunks missing from its shell. O’Toole was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty. During the court proceedings, Hannah Griffiths, the prosecutor, revealed that the victim, Lucy McDonald, had been at a family member’s house after a weekend with O’Toole, who was her former partner. She received two videos showing O’Toole encouraging his dog to attack the tortoise, which was upside down at the time. In the background, O’Toole could be heard repeatedly saying “go on, get him.”

The court heard that Lucy McDonald expressed her fear that O’Toole might kill her pet and described feeling extremely scared and upset during the incident. The police investigation confirmed the cruelty, leading to O’Toole’s conviction. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and to sending offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing communications.

O’Toole was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail for his actions in 2016. The case was reported by the Liverpool Echo on March 24, 2016, and further updates appeared in January 2017, when O’Toole was involved in another criminal activity.

In February 2019, O’Toole was caught at Edinburgh Airport with a suitcase packed full of cannabis weighing approximately 15 kilograms and valued at around £150,000. The drugs were concealed inside a purple suitcase, and he was attempting to pass through airport security. Initially, O’Toole claimed ignorance about the contents of his luggage. However, during court proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, it was revealed that he had agreed to fly to Barcelona to bring back the drugs to Scotland as part of repaying a drug debt.

O’Toole pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis. His solicitor, Kenny McFarlane, explained that O’Toole, who was unemployed at the time, had been suffering from a severe cocaine addiction for several years. The lawyer stated that the Spanish drug trip was an attempt to settle a debt, with O’Toole being handed the suitcase by an unknown man in Barcelona, unaware of its contents.

Additional information indicated that O’Toole was experiencing depression following the breakup with his girlfriend the previous year, which led him to turn to alcohol and drugs. As a result, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for drug trafficking. The incident was covered by the Edinburgh News.

Most recently, in March 2023, it was reported that O’Toole now resides at Barnard Road, Prenton CH43 1TT, continuing his life in the Birkenhead area.