Pensioner who mounted footpath and killed dog in front of baby twins given driving ban

A man aged in his 70s has been slapped with a two-year driving ban after running over a dog that was out on a family walk beside two baby twins in Co Antrim.

Mother Terri McCullagh, 36, was on the walk with her husband, sister and two kids in Tike cars on 2 January, 2023 when a car mounted the pavement and mowed down their pet Beagle, Annie.

The incident happened near their home in Greenisland when a silver SUV swerved into their path, reports Belfast Live.

Terri said: “He just drove on. He ran over Annie, he killed her and he drove on. He must’ve seen that we were out as a family, three adults, two tiny children in Tike cars and two dogs on leads. He swerved and mounted the footpath twice and the second time he hit one of our family – and he just drove on.”

She called for the culprit to come forward and a PSNI investigation led to the prosecution of the individual who received a two-year ban for dangerous driving.

Terri said: “We are very grateful that the man who killed our wee Annie has been held to account for his actions. It won’t bring her back, but we’re glad he has been taken off the roads.

“We just want to thank everyone who supported and helped us. We have been devastated by Annie’s loss. We rehomed her from Almost Home when she was five years old and they had rescued her from a life in a puppy farm.

Annie was rescued from a lifetime of breeding in a puppy farm

“We brought Annie home on November 9, 2019 and she had been used for repeated breeding, fed once a week and never socialised. By the time we got her we thought she’d had at least six litters including one shortly before she was rescued.

“She knew nothing of human contact, nothing about living in a home, of stairs, furniture, mirrors, nothing about being part of a family but she soon settled into family life and learned what it was like to be loved and cared for.

“She was called Sweet Pea by the team at Almost Home and we changed her name to Annie because she was our wee Orphan Annie. After five years of being a breeding machine we were able to give her three years, one month and 24 days of love before she was taken from us.

“Annie was the perfect family dog, placid and loving, able to accept love despite what puppy farmers had done to her, she was a gentle companion for Isla and Noah and sister for Bella Beagle.

Babies Noah and Isla being pushed in their Tike cars on the day Annie was killed

“Not only did we lose a precious family member in Annie on January 2, 2023, but it could have been one of our children, Isla or Noah, who could have been hit, it could have been my sister or my husband, or it could have been me. What sort of person just runs over another living being and drives on without even stopping to see what damage they’ve done?

“The vet said that Annie was killed outright because her injuries were so catastrophic, but we struggled to find any comfort in the fact that she didn’t suffer for long.

“Knowing that the PSNI took it seriously and that they successfully prosecuted the hit-and-run driver who is now off the roads, is some comfort and our thanks go to everyone who helped us and the police in this matter.”

Little Annie with her sister Bella, 10

A PSNI spokesperson said: “You might remember the sad case from January 2023 when there was a collision on the Upper Road, Greenisland and a family pet beagle Annie was killed.

“After a police investigation the driver was identified and put before the courts. This driver has been found guilty of a number of motoring offences, including dangerous driving, and is currently banned from driving.”

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