GAVIN DOOLAN'S BRUTAL ATTACK ON SEFTON PARK DOG SHOCKS LIVERPOOL COMMUNITY

Gavin Peter Doolan, a resident of Waverley Road in Sefton Park, Liverpool, became the focus of public outrage after a disturbing incident involving a small dog took place on August 16, 2017, in the nearby area of Dingle. The incident was captured on horrifying footage by a concerned passer-by, revealing Doolan violently kicking a Jack Russell/Corgi crossbreed named Sconehead in the face while walking the dog along a busy street.

According to witnesses, the force of the attack was so severe that Sconehead was propelled into the air, visibly flinching each time Doolan lashed out. The footage also shows members of the public attempting to intervene and protect the animal, but Doolan continued his assault despite their efforts. The scene was both shocking and distressing, highlighting the brutality of the attack.

In court, Doolan admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and using threatening words or behavior that could cause alarm or distress. His actions drew widespread condemnation from the local community and animal welfare advocates. After the court proceedings, the Liverpool-based newspaper the ECHO approached Doolan for a comment. Showing little remorse, he justified his actions by claiming the dog had bitten him and his brother. Doolan stated, “I didn’t beat up a dog, go away… I didn’t beat up a dog. I kicked a dog, so what? I kicked a dog, it f*g ripped the end of my finger off so I kicked it.”

He further explained that the dog had been biting his brother for months, recounting an incident where the dog was chewing on his finger while he was on a bus. Doolan insisted he had pleaded guilty and was being unfairly targeted, adding, “Listen, the dog was biting him [Gavin’s brother] for months. I’m sat on the bus and it started chewing on my finger. I apologise, I pleaded guilty, You’re hounding me now.”

Expressing his disdain for concern over animals, Doolan claimed that people should prioritize children over animals, referencing a tragic incident where a six-month-old baby was killed by a dog, which he attributed to alcohol consumption by the child's father. He dismissed the significance of animal welfare, stating, “Animals are like secondary, you should consider children more than animals.” Doolan also claimed to have been threatened over the incident, with social media users allegedly vowing retribution. “I am remorseful. I shouldn’t have kicked the dog okay, what more do you want me to do? When a dog is hanging off your finger you might think differently,” he added.

Court records revealed that Doolan had a long history of criminal behavior, with 31 previous convictions for various offenses. His last conviction before this incident was in March 2017 for theft and battery. At that time, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order and a home curfew, which he was already breaching at the time of the attack. Doolan cited mental health issues and claimed to be unwell, stating he had not engaged with probation services since August or completed a thinking skills course. The magistrates granted an adjournment to gather further information from the probation service and to prepare a pre-sentence report.

Although Doolan was scheduled for sentencing on January 22, 2018, no further details about the outcome were publicly released. The dog, who was renamed Sconehead after the attack, eventually recovered from his injuries and was rehomed to a caring family, providing a happier ending to a distressing ordeal for the animal.