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| Kirkwood family members admit dog fighting charges | Kirkwood family members admit dog fighting charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three members of an east Belfast family have admitted animal cruelty offences described by the police and USPCA as among the most serious they have seen. | Three members of an east Belfast family have admitted animal cruelty offences described by the police and USPCA as among the most serious they have seen. |
| Jeremiah Kirkwood, 43, and sons Chris, 23, and Wayne, 20, of Island Street, admitted keeping animals for fighting. | |
| They also pleaded guilty to having equipment in connection with animal fights and causing unnecessary suffering to four puppies. | They also pleaded guilty to having equipment in connection with animal fights and causing unnecessary suffering to four puppies. |
| Jamie Morrow, 19, of McAllister Court, pleaded guilty to similar charges. | |
| All four were released on bail ahead of sentencing. | |
| The investigation into the family's activities began more than two years ago when video footage was recovered from a mobile phone. | The investigation into the family's activities began more than two years ago when video footage was recovered from a mobile phone. |
| One clip showed dogs being set on a badger. In another, the same dogs were set on a cat that had been trapped in a cage, tearing it to pieces. | One clip showed dogs being set on a badger. In another, the same dogs were set on a cat that had been trapped in a cage, tearing it to pieces. |
| A police officer welcomed the men's guilty pleas and said people should contact them if they had suspicions about such activity. | A police officer welcomed the men's guilty pleas and said people should contact them if they had suspicions about such activity. |