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A mother and daughter who allowed a Jack Russell and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to die "painful and miserable" deaths due to starvation were today banned from keeping animals for life.

Sandra Mullen, 56, and her 26-year old daughter Julie Mullen - who have separate addresses at Cambrai Street in the Shankill Road area - were both ordered to serve 150 hours community service after they each admitted a charge of animal cruelty.

Belfast Crown Court heard the dogs were found dead at the rear of Sandra Mullen's home after an Animal Welfare Officer from Belfast City Council visited the property on October 3, 2016.

A vet who carried out a postmortem on the dogs noted they were both severely underweight, and prior to a "painful and miserable" death, the bodies of both animals had broken down muscle tissue to stay alive.

The mother and daughter sat side by side as Judge Geoffrey Miller QC told them they were both "utterly unfit" to look after animals due to "wilful neglect". He also told the pair he rejected "excuses" they made in the aftermath of the discovery.

Crown prosecutor Michael Chambers told the court that while the Mullens initially denied a charge of animal cruelty, they subsequently admitted causing the dogs unnecessary suffering, over a period from January 1, 2016 to the date the dogs remains were found on October 3, 2016.

Mr Chambers revealed that when the Animal Welfare Officer called at Sandra Mullen's home, she told the officer both dogs were dead, and claimed they had died the day before. Her daughter Julie Mullen arrived at her mother's a short time later.

The older woman - who admitted cruelty towards the Jack Russell - said she had been putting food and water out for the dog. She added she had never taken the dog to a vet as it was not licenced and it had never been vaccinated.

She also claimed the dog had been "playing happily" the day before it died - which was branded as "utter nonsense" by Judge Miller.

Mr Chambers said that when Julie Mullen was questioned about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she "adopted the same position as her mother".

The court heard that when the remains of the two dogs were taken to a vet for postmortem, both animals were severely underweight. The Staffy should have been 15 kilos but was seven, while the Jack Russell's weight should have been around five kilos, but was only one kilos when it died.

As well as determining that both dogs suffered painful deaths, the vet also concluded the owners "abjectly failed to protect the welfare" as the "animals would have suffered right through their starvation".

Telling the court it was clear the Mullens were incapable of looking after animals, Mr Chambers revealed it cost £5,000 to bring the case to court.

Paul Bacon, the barrister representing Sandra Mullen, said his client's claim that she didn't have enough money to go to the vets was "not good enough."

Revealing Sandra Mullen had the dog for around two to three years and "there didn't seem to be any difficulty up to that point", Mr Bacon added she came before the court with a clear criminal record.

The barrister said: "She is not likely to come before the court again."

Michael Boyd, representing Julie Mullen, revealed her dog was given to her by a neighbour, and that she initially took care of it but when it started to become unwell "she seems to have been incapable" of getting the animal treatment.

He said: "She believed that if she took the dog to the vet, she would be in trouble because the dog didn't have a licence."

Accepting Julie Mullen was "unprepared" to care for a dog, Mr Boyd said she couldn't have failed to notice when the dog became unwell. Mr Boyd also told the court his client was "extremely remorseful, ashamed and upset".

Passing sentence, Judge Miller said: "I don't accept for one minute ... they were unaware of the suffering these two animals endured."

Pointing out it would have taken "a matter of weeks rather than days" for the dogs to starve, the Judge added that any human who failed to detect this suffering "defies any logic."

The Judge also said that while he accepted the pair didn't wilfully seek to inflict suffering, it was clear both women were "utterly unfit" to care for any animals.

Pointing out both animals "did suffer and suffered grievously and it was wilful neglect", Judge Miller said he rejected "excuses made" by the women - both at the time, and in subsequent correspondence with the authorities.

And whilst saying the custody threshold has been passed, as an alternative to sending the pair to prison, Judge Miller ordered they both complete 150 hours community service - but warned any breach of the order would lead to a six-month prison sentence.

The women were also banned from keeping animals for life, and ordered to each pay £250 court costs.

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