JOHN FLEMING BRUTALLY ABUSES DOGS IN EGLINTON - COURT HEARS SHOCKING FOOTAGE

John Fleming, a former police officer, was convicted in 2022 after a disturbing incident involving animal cruelty that took place in Eglinton. The case came to light after a witness captured footage of Fleming engaging in violent acts against his pets, which included an Alsatian cross named Ko and a Staffy called Alfie.

On January 30, 2021, a witness observed Fleming walking his dogs along Craigbrack Road in Eglinton. The witness reported seeing Ko, the Alsatian cross, grabbing a springer spaniel by the back and shaking it violently. In response, Fleming was seen kicking Ko repeatedly until the dog released its grip. The witness noted that Ko appeared to cower before Fleming, who then bent down, seized the dog by the head, and forcefully slammed him onto the road surface.

The incident was recorded on a dashcam by the witness, and during the court proceedings, the footage was played for the jury. The video clearly showed Fleming, dressed in a yellow high-visibility jacket, delivering at least five full-force kicks to Ko. At least three of these kicks connected with the animal, which then ran away onto the road. The footage depicted Fleming continuing to kick the dog multiple times before it managed to escape.

Following this, Fleming was seen walking a short distance down the road with his husband, Daniel Fleming-Cairo. He appeared to prevent his husband from petting Alfie, the smaller dog. Subsequently, Fleming lifted Alfie by his scruff and hindquarters, raising him above his head with arms fully extended, before slamming him onto the tarmac. The video showed Fleming repeating this action, lifting Alfie nearly to head height and then forcefully slamming him into the ground. The footage was cut off at this point when a vehicle drove in front of the camera, obscuring Fleming and his husband from view.

Prosecutors explained that although the recording lacked audio, the witness claimed to have honked the car horn and shouted commands such as “stop beating that dog.” Fleming’s reaction was to turn around and respond aggressively, shouting and posturing in a confrontational manner. An exchange of words ensued, with Fleming attempting to open the vehicle door. The court heard that Fleming’s behavior was hostile and aggressive during this confrontation.

Subsequently, authorities visited Fleming’s residence a few days later. A veterinarian examined the animals and noted that both Ko and Alfie were generally friendly and good-natured. However, Alfie appeared slightly sore when sitting and rising, with a mild weight-bearing lameness in his right leg and a superficial wound. During the visit, a third dog was also seized. Although Fleming’s husband initially wished to contest the re-homing of this third dog, he ultimately agreed to the court’s decision.

When questioned about the incident, Fleming claimed that his actions were “proportional.” He expressed remorse, stating, “Obviously I am remorseful that I had to hit my dogs… [but] I wouldn’t have acted if I didn’t think that they weren’t correct… Do I regret acting? No… It’s the circumstances I regret that it even happened.” However, during his interview, Fleming laughed throughout the account and accused the witness of a “public disorder offence.”

Fleming’s defense lawyer, Eoghan Devlin, revealed that Fleming had been dismissed from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) earlier that week as a direct result of these proceedings. The lawyer emphasized that Fleming had lost a promising career and faced significant disgrace.

In court, Fleming faced a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment but was ultimately sentenced to a community service order. He was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service, pay £2,000 in costs, and was banned from owning any animals for ten years. The case drew widespread attention, highlighting the severity of animal cruelty and the importance of accountability for such actions.