ARMAGH HORSE CRUELTY: MARTHA TOAL AND MICHAEL FERRIS SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE CASES

In a disturbing case of animal cruelty that has shocked the community of Armagh, Martha Toal and her partner Michael Ferris have been found guilty of severe neglect and abuse towards horses, ponies, and other animals on their respective properties. The investigation was triggered by a formal complaint received by the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, which led to a detailed inquiry into the conditions at the farms owned by the accused.

Martha Toal, born in July 1966 and residing at School House Close, Glenanne, Armagh BT60 2GA, faced a total of twelve charges related to the mistreatment of animals. Her partner, Michael Ferris, born around 1956 and living on Shillinghill Road, Armagh BT60 2EE, was charged with nine counts. The focus of the investigation was Ferris's farm located at 7 Shillinghill Road, Mowhan, Armagh, where authorities uncovered a scene of neglect and suffering.

The case, which emerged in October 2016, was described by the presiding judge as one of the most egregious cruelty cases he had ever encountered. Both Toal and Ferris were sentenced to five months in prison. However, on appeal, Toal’s sentence was reduced to two months. Despite the reduction in her jail time, her lifetime ban on keeping any animals was upheld, a measure intended to prevent her from reoffending.

The judge also issued a stern warning that this ban extended to all animals, “down to a goldfish,” emphasizing the severity of the case. Additionally, the court ordered the couple to pay a total of £46,000 in costs to the authorities. This financial penalty was imposed after it was revealed that Toal and Ferris had refused to allow two statutory bodies to sell the seized animals. The authorities had offered to sell the animals to cover the costs of their care, but the couple declined, forcing the state to bear the expenses.

The investigation uncovered appalling conditions at Ferris’s farm, where animal welfare officers found horses, ponies, and a donkey suffering from neglect. Eight equines were seized by the council after veterinary assessments confirmed they were suffering due to starvation and poor living conditions. Tragically, three of these animals did not survive, and two ponies were found dead on the premises.

The court found Toal and Ferris guilty of multiple charges, including failing to dispose of animal carcasses, causing unnecessary suffering, neglecting to provide a proper diet, and failing to comply with welfare improvement notices. They also pleaded guilty to causing suffering to seven horses and a foal. The verdict highlighted the severity of their neglect and the blatant disregard for animal welfare.

As part of their sentencing, the court ordered two months of imprisonment for each, a reduction from the original five months on appeal. The couple was also mandated to pay a substantial sum in costs, and a lifetime ban was imposed on Toal’s ability to keep any animals in the future. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Armagh, raising awareness about animal cruelty and the importance of animal welfare enforcement.