RYAN MARTIN FROM MARYKIRK INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL WILDLIFE FIGHTING IN ABERDEENSHIRE

Ryan Martin, a resident of Balmanno Cottages in Marykirk, Laurencekirk AB30 1US, has been convicted of heinous wildlife cruelty crimes involving his dogs and wild animals such as foxes and badgers. The case, which has garnered significant attention, reveals disturbing footage and evidence of illegal activities carried out by Martin, a man who also works as a gamekeeper.

Martin, who is also a father, uploaded graphic and disturbing videos to social media platforms TikTok and Snapchat, showing his dogs engaged in violent confrontations with foxes and badgers. In these videos, Martin can be heard goading his dogs into attacking the wild animals, which were visibly injured and suffering. The footage depicted scenes of brutal violence, with the dogs biting and mauling the animals, and Martin encouraging them with commands such as “Get on, get on, chi chi chi chi.”

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) launched an investigation into Martin’s activities after receiving intelligence in January 2022. On February 9, 2022, SSPCA inspectors, accompanied by police officers, visited Martin’s home in Marykirk, where they conducted a thorough search of his property. During the search, they seized Martin’s mobile phone, which contained numerous videos and images documenting his dogs fighting with foxes and badgers.

Additionally, three dogs believed to be the same as those featured in the social media videos were removed from Martin’s property. These dogs, identified as brindle lurcher Boss, tan and white lurcher Storm, and brindle deerhound/greyhound Beau, were found to have both fresh and old injuries consistent with involvement in illegal animal fighting activities. Veterinary examinations confirmed that these injuries were caused by repeated fights, including with wildlife such as badgers.

The vet’s report indicated that Storm’s injuries matched those typically seen in illegal badger baiting, a cruel activity where dogs are used to fight wild badgers, causing immense pain and suffering to both animals. Boss, the brindle lurcher, was found to have healed scars and deformities consistent with past fights, although not exclusively with wild animals. Beau, the brindle deerhound/greyhound, also exhibited injuries that suggested involvement in such illegal activities.

Forensic analysis of Martin’s phone revealed numerous videos depicting his dogs engaged in violent fights with foxes and badgers. One particularly disturbing clip, lasting about 60 seconds, showed Storm with the top of a badger’s head in her mouth, while Beau and Boss attacked the animal all over its body and legs. The footage was accompanied by audio of Martin encouraging his dogs, shouting phrases like “Get on, get on, chi chi chi,” as the animals fought. The badger was heavily bloodstained, and at one point, the badger’s grip was seen on Storm’s snout, indicating a fierce struggle.

Another video posted on TikTok showed Storm standing in a field with blood around her face and chest, after which she and an unidentified lurcher attacked a live badger. A subsequent clip appeared to show Storm with a fox, which seemed to have her by the collar. Martin also posted a video warning viewers, saying, “Hold on to your fucking hats. What you’re about to see isn’t 100% legal,” before displaying images of dogs in a field and a dead fox lying on the ground.

Initially, Martin denied causing his dogs to fight with wild animals, but he later changed his plea to guilty. His lawyer, Gregor Kelly of Lefevre Litigation, argued that Martin was out at night shooting foxes, which he believed he was entitled to do with his dogs. Kelly explained that Martin would encourage his dogs to retrieve and dispatch foxes after shooting them, and that on one occasion, the dogs encountered a badger.

Kelly acknowledged that Martin’s views of foxes and badgers as “vermin” were immature and outdated, but emphasized that these were his personal beliefs, which he now recognized as unacceptable in modern Scotland. The court was told that Martin planned to work as a joiner to support his family.

Sheriff Ian Wallace sentenced Martin to 175 hours of unpaid work, and imposed a ban on him from owning or working with dogs for five years, which will expire in December 2028. Martin has also signed over ownership of the seized dogs to the SSPCA, which has since rehomed them. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of authorities to combat illegal wildlife fighting and animal cruelty in the region.