TONY DELANEY FROM MOSSELY SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH CRUELTY TO INJURED CAT IN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE

Tony Delaney, a man residing on Waterton Lane in Mossley, became the focus of a disturbing animal cruelty case that shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation. Born around 1983, Delaney, who previously served as a soldier and now works as a boxing coach, was involved in a heinous act that took place on Queen’s Road in Ashton-under-Lyne.

On the early morning of Sunday, September 22, 2013, Delaney and a group of friends, who have been described as intimidating, encountered a wounded cat lying injured in the middle of the road. Witnesses reported that Delaney, who had consumed at least ten pints of lager that night, approached the injured animal with apparent indifference. CCTV footage captured the moment when Delaney crossed himself as if preparing for a penalty kick before delivering a brutal kick that sent the defenseless feline flying through the air.

Not stopping there, Delaney took a second swing, kicking the cat against a nearby wall, further demonstrating a shocking lack of compassion. The incident did not end with the animal’s suffering; Delaney and his companions also subjected two teenage girls who had stopped their car to assist the injured cat to a barrage of verbal abuse. The girls, frightened and distressed, were forced to drive away from the scene before the RSPCA arrived to investigate.

The tragic outcome was confirmed when inspectors arrived at the scene around 5 a.m. to find the cat had succumbed to its injuries just minutes earlier. The cruelty inflicted upon the animal prompted immediate police action. Delaney was arrested hours later and subsequently admitted to police that he and his friends wanted to put the cat “out of its misery.” He claimed that his actions were influenced by his military survival training, which he believed justified his behavior.

During a court hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, Delaney pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary cruelty to an animal. CCTV footage of the incident was played in court, visibly causing Delaney to wince as the images of his violent act were shown. His defense lawyer, Christopher Squibbs, argued that Delaney’s actions were a misguided attempt to help the injured animal, asserting that he had intended to euthanize the cat. The lawyer acknowledged that Delaney’s conduct was handled “appallingly badly” and was a result of his intoxicated state.

The court was also informed about the efforts of Charlotte Lewis-Dobson, the driver of the vehicle that first spotted the injured cat. She had contacted the RSPCA immediately and positioned her car to prevent further harm to the animal. Alongside her passenger, Nicole Calvert, Lewis-Dobson confronted Delaney and his friends, warning them to leave the animal alone. In her statement, Ms. Lewis-Dobson expressed her disbelief and outrage at the cruelty inflicted upon the distressed creature, describing how the cat was crying out in pain and fear during its final moments.

As a result of his actions, Tony Delaney was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail. Additionally, he was banned from keeping any animals for a period of five years, a restriction that expired in 2019. The case drew significant attention to issues of animal cruelty and the importance of compassion towards vulnerable creatures within the community of Mossley and beyond.