Boy, aged 14 involved in criminal underworld of NI badger baiting, say USPCA

Boy, aged 14 involved in criminal underworld of NI badger baiting, say USPCA

A child aged 14 is suspected to be among at least 150 criminals involved in the dark underworld of badger baiting.

The comment was made during the launch of a USPCA report exposing this organised criminality and cruelty across Northern Ireland.

Video footage of a barbaric bait stunned Stormont ’s packed long gallery to silence as the cries of a badger being torn to shreds by dogs on the orders of their owners rang out.

Now the charity and some MLAs are calling for a taskforce to tackle this continuing and illegal cruelty.

USPCA chief Nora Smith told those gathered: “Badgers are a protected species - but this doesn’t stop bait offenders.