TOM AND WILLIAM MONGAN'S HORRIFIC PUPPY FARMING IN DUNMURRY AND BELFAST REVEALED

In a disturbing case that has shocked animal welfare advocates and the local community, brothers Tom and William Mongan, both residents of Dunmurry and Belfast, have been found guilty of operating a cruel puppy farming operation that spanned across Glasgow and Northern Ireland. The brothers, who are part of the Irish traveller community, engaged in the illegal sale of sick and malnourished puppies, leaving a trail of suffering and neglect in their wake.

Tom Mongan, born around 1995 and residing at 4 Mill Pond Glen, Poleglass, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0XX, and William Joseph Mongan, also known as William Ward, born on October 9, 1983, of 6 Ardcaoin Grove, Poleglass, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 0US, were both convicted in 2023 for their involvement in this heinous activity. The pair operated from rented Airbnb properties in Glasgow, where they sold dogs online, often in deplorable conditions. SSPCA inspectors discovered the animals living in unsanitary environments, with some of the 11 puppies seized later euthanized due to severe health issues.

Tom Mongan pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, while William Mongan admitted to two such charges. The offences took place between December 2020 and February 2021. Sheriff Mark McGuire sentenced each brother to nine months in jail, emphasizing the severity of their cruelty. The sheriff stated, “Each of you pled guilty to what can be described as animal cruelty on 11 separate dogs. What I heard is what the public would know as puppy farming. It must have been obvious the dogs were unwell and the conditions they were kept in was poor – you took no steps to get help for these animals. The motivation was for financial gain – each dog was priced at over £1,000. It was clearly greed and it brought unimaginable misery to those who unfortunately bought them. I am satisfied there is no other appropriate sentence than custody.”

Despite previous convictions related to similar offences in Northern Ireland, Tom Mongan continued his illegal activities by renting out additional properties in Glasgow to sell more puppies. One such transaction involved a springer spaniel puppy advertised on the website PetsForHomes. A man responded to the ad, met Tom at an address, and was shown a vaccination card for the puppy, later named Bella. The man paid £1,600 in separate installments but soon noticed Bella was lethargic and suffering from diarrhoea, with a vet suspecting parvovirus. Days later, Bella was euthanized due to her poor health. Tom Mongan then blocked the man on social media after he attempted to contact him about the puppy’s death.

Similarly, a woman purchased a Pomeranian puppy named Abbie from Tom under comparable circumstances. The dog vomited, had diarrhoea with live worms, and was later euthanized after a post-mortem confirmed she suffered from parvovirus. Another buyer acquired a Beagle named Freya, who exhibited symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhoea, ultimately leading to her death. Despite attempts to reach Tom, the owner received no response.

On January 28, 2021, SSPCA inspectors and police raided the addresses associated with the brothers, discovering puppies in distressing conditions. One spaniel puppy was found to be lethargic and unable to lift her head, while another spaniel and a Pomeranian were in visibly poor health. A puddle of yellow fluid, believed to be diarrhoea, was observed on the floor of a bedroom. The puppies were seized, with only four linked to microchips. A veterinarian confirmed that all puppies were in poor condition and required veterinary care; one was euthanized on the spot.

Further inspections a week later revealed William Mongan, who was visited by SSPCA officers after reports of beagle puppies being sold. Four puppies were found, including a beagle in poor health and a border collie lying in her own urine and faeces, described as “extremely unwell.” William Mongan threatened legal action against one of the SSPCA inspectors, but no legal proceedings against him were pursued at that time.

During the court proceedings, the defense for Tom Mongan acknowledged his involvement was driven by financial motives. His lawyer, Atlanta Jack, expressed remorse and apologized for the distress caused to those who purchased the puppies. Conversely, William Mongan’s lawyer, Patrick Brechany, described his client as a gardener who was remorseful and regretful, denying that William was a “puppy farmer,” though he admitted he sold dogs that had been bred on puppy farms.

Both brothers were handed a ten-year ban on keeping animals, and each received a nine-month custodial sentence. The court emphasized the gravity of their cruelty, with Sheriff Mark McGuire stating, “It is clear that these acts of animal cruelty were motivated by greed, and the suffering inflicted was unimaginable. The sentence of custody is the only appropriate response.”

In addition to their convictions, the brothers’ activities drew further scrutiny in April 2023 when the Irish newspaper Sunday World reported on William Mongan, also known as William Ward. Neighbors recounted how they had to intervene to save two young cocker spaniel puppies abandoned in his backyard shed. The puppies, crying incessantly for food and attention, had been left without their mother and were in a state of distress. Concerned neighbors described how William Mongan had only been seen once since abandoning the puppies, and even then, he remained in his van, showing little interest in the animals’ welfare. The neighbors expressed their frustration, stating, “It’s hard to understand why he’d abandon such vulnerable puppies like this. They’ve been crying 24 hours a day because they’re starving and missing their mum. We’ve reported this to Belfast City Council’s animal welfare department and the USPCA, but nothing seems to be done.”

These revelations underscore a pattern of neglect and cruelty associated with the Mongan brothers, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws and greater accountability for those involved in illegal puppy farming and trafficking.