LANNA MONAGHAN SHOCKS TODDLER IN FORT AUGUSTUS WITH ELECTRIC COLLAR AND BRUTALITY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Fort Augustus and the wider Highlands region, a woman with a military background has been found guilty of inflicting severe physical and psychological abuse on a young child under her care. Lanna Monaghan, aged 34, who previously served in the army for nine years, was brought before Edinburgh High Court to face charges related to her brutal treatment of a toddler during 2014 and 2015.

Monaghan admitted to five charges of assault, revealing a pattern of cruelty that included the use of a dog training device to punish the young boy. The device in question was an electric shock collar, which she had seen used on dogs and had reportedly told a pet owner, “If it works on a dog it will work on kids.” This statement underscores the severity and disturbing nature of her actions, as she applied the device to the child’s neck, delivering electric shocks in an attempt to discipline him.

During the court proceedings, Monaghan also confessed to physically assaulting the child in various ways. She admitted to kicking and biting him, hitting him so forcefully with a wooden spoon that it broke, and subjecting him to cold showers as a form of punishment. She openly acknowledged having a temper and described herself as someone who could “zone out” and go “out of control,” which contributed to her abusive behavior.

Photographs of the child's injuries were presented to the court, prompting the judge, Lady Rae, to inquire about the injuries on the boy’s neck. It was confirmed that these injuries were consistent with the electrodes on the electric collar, indicating that the device had been used on multiple occasions. The judge described the case as an “appalling catalogue of charges of physical cruelty,” emphasizing the gravity of the abuse inflicted over a period of fifteen months on a defenseless toddler.

Monaghan pleaded guilty to repeatedly attaching the electric shock collar around the boy’s neck and administering shocks, including a particularly distressing incident where she delivered three shocks in quick succession because the child refused to swallow food. She also admitted to forcibly placing him in a shower and turning it on and off while kicking him, further illustrating the extent of her violence.

Medical examinations revealed that the boy had suffered multiple injuries, including bruises and red marks on his neck, which were consistent with the use of the electric collar. The injuries extended to his face and body, with doctors noting that some of the marks appeared to be non-accidental. The police observed these injuries upon their visit, and the evidence was deemed sufficient to establish a pattern of abuse.

Additional admissions from Monaghan included biting the child on the ear and repeatedly striking him with a wooden spoon. The abuse came to an end when a concerned woman contacted authorities after witnessing the child's suffering, prompting an investigation that uncovered the full extent of the cruelty.

During a psychiatric interview, Monaghan tearfully expressed remorse, admitting that she often got “fired up” and struggled with “anger issues.” She explained that the child’s behavior, such as spitting, urinating, and vomiting on the floor, triggered her outbursts. She described moments where she would crouch down to the child's eye level, shouting and swearing at him in a state of distress.

Advocate depute Jane Farquharson explained that the electric collar operated via remote control, delivering shocks that the child felt on his neck, which explained the injuries observed. The court was told that the injuries on the child's neck, along with bruises and red marks, were consistent with repeated use of the device.

Monaghan was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing scheduled for July at the High Court in Glasgow, as the court considered the appropriate sentence for her actions. Her case has raised serious concerns about child abuse and the misuse of training devices, prompting calls for increased awareness and protective measures for vulnerable children in the Highlands and beyond.