Ernest Dempsey — The widely talked-about case of the dog Lennox in Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK), once again invoked concerns and condemnations of the mockery of justice as the most senior judges in Northern Ireland upheld the death sentence for the dog, as 
decreed by precious courts. The highest court’s decision was reserved last month and was finally announced on June 12 with the BBC story quoting Lord Justice Girvan of the Appeals Court that the judge is upholding the death sentence for Lennox after carefully considering the evidence.
This brings the most basic and important question again to our attention. What evidence there actually is against Lennox; on what basis has Lennox been marked as a dangerous dog? All that the Belfast City Council (BCC) has as ‘evidence’ is their own, subjective perception about the dog – that he is a pit bull and hence dangerous. But how do they even prove that Lennox is a pit bull when he is not listed as a pit bull at all but a lab/American bulldog mix. On the basis of this testimony by the BCC, the dog has been in prison for over two years and has been sentenced to death by the highest judges. No wonder that the ignorance this reflects on behalf of the BCC as well as the judiciary in Northern Ireland has created a scattered wave of condemnation on different continents.
And if that was not enough, some media workers in Belfast are literally playing with the emotions of people supporting Lennox. A reporter from Belfast Telegraph, the paper which offered an apology to BCC over publishing an article in support of Lennox and questioning his arrest, recently did another stunt in this story by answering a call from a Lennox supporter and misinforming her that Lenox was killed. Hence a letter of condemnation against the paper from Prudence Halliwell who has been following the Lenox story and telling her own account of how BCC harassed her.
Objectively speaking, there is no evidence against Lennox to prove him dangerous. He never attacked anyone and has no history of aggression. All he has been is a victim of abuse by the BCC and injustice by the courts. Given that Lennox is not only a beloved and friendly family pet but also the emotional support for a disabled child in the family, his captivity in an unknown place (and usually the authorities only do it to dangerous terrorists) is shocking. Lacking any evidence and yet ordering a harmless dog to death is like inviting ridicule; for a court should be hearing cases of real criminals. Is that the best judiciary in Northern Ireland can do?
At some point, people say enough is enough. And that point appears to have arrived now for the family owning Lennox. They are yet to make an official statement as to where they will take this fight now. One thing clear to Lennox’s supporters is that any authorities in Northern Ireland—administrative, executive, judicial—are devoid of any sense of justice. If Lennox is to get justice—and this is the last chance—the case must be taken out of Northern Ireland and to the higher judiciary or authorities in England. We can only hope that what happened to Otis doesn’t happen to Lennox.
There is absolutely no evidence to back up BCC’s case against Lennox. No proof he has ever shown aggression. No signs he would ever be dangerous. The warden who seized him told the court he was aggressive towards her and she is scared of him. Yet, there are pictures of her hugging him smiling, and of him licking her face!! Aggressive dog?? Scared woman??? You decide.
I saw the same pic. you were talking about. Lennox was standing up on his back legs and was giving kisses to this woman. AND she said she was afraid of him- Are you kidding me???????? Look @ the Pic. Judge, Pictures don’t lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many of us from around the world are watching, with disgust, at the arrogant and egotistical decision that has been made and disgracing Northern Ireland to the rest of the planet. The biggest piece of the puzzle in all of this, is where is the compassion….for Lennox who is innocent of being a danger and isn’t even a pitbull but is labelled one anyway, and, the family. Especially the girl who is needing her dog to assist her with her medical condition. Belfast….do the right thing. It takes a big heart, and courage to right a wrong. This is wrong. But you have every opportunity to make it right and let the world cheer for you! Thank you Belfast, we know you are smarter than this….aren’t you?? Please phone Belfast City Council 02890320202 Ask how Lennox is ? and when do they think he might go home ? we will not give upon this dog …….he needs to be with his family ………..FREE LENNOX NOW
I hope the pope can help on this now too and i am sure if lennox owners bring this to the highest level i am sure the world will do some kind of help in the costs one million people giv one euro costs paid maybe by a chip an pin payment or paypal somehow it will b paid…..
What a fantastic idea, everyone can afford a euro!!
Just how much intelligence does it take to see Lennox has never been guilty of anything, if Lennox is agressive then im a monkeys uncle, the people who have so obviously lied under oath should be tried, Lennox should be returned now to his family !!!!
So many of us from around the world are watching, with disgust, at the arrogant and egotistical decision that has been made and disgracing Northern Ireland to the rest of the planet. The biggest piece of the puzzle in all of this, is where is the compassion….for Lennox who is innocent of being a danger and isn’t even a pitbull but is labelled one anyway, and, the family. Especially the girl who is needing her dog to assist her with her medical condition. Belfast….do the right thing. It takes a big heart, and courage to right a wrong. This is wrong. But you have every opportunity to make it right and let the world cheer for you! Thank you Belfast, we know you are smarter than this….aren’t you??
Very well said!!
Your article is right now. I can only repeat and support your statement.
“The case must be taken out of Northern Ireland and to the higher judiciary or authorities in England”. Lets hope the public outcry will make it so.
Cannot understand if this inept council every gets elected again.
I have followed Lennox’s story from the day his plea was placed on Facebook. For two years I have witnessed the injustice, the lies, the corruption and the tactics used (and failed) by BCC to save face. I can honestly say that I have never witnessed a greater injustice and I have never despised an organisation or the British legal system so much. In a world where there are criminals living on every street corner, repeatedly commiting disgusting crimes and getting away with it because ‘the courts are too busy’ or ‘there aren’t enough police officers’, yet a harmless, defenceless pet is treated in such a disgusting manner and has been sentenced to death for doing absolutely NOTHING wrong!
What message is this sending out to the children of today? That it is acceptable to lie under oath? To hold an innocent animal hostage and then destroy it because it looks a certain way? We drum into our citizens the importance of equality, diversity and equal rights yet those holding the power to make changes show no compassion, no morals and no ethics.
It’s an utter disgrace and it makes me feel ashamed to be human! It’s time this country stopped focussing on money and started focussing on making changes to the examples it is setting to our youth!
I’m only 26 years old and already I have lost faith in mankind. I was proud to be a British Citizen, now I’m not even proud to be human.
This nation has a lot to answer for and it can start by letting that poor family have their pet dog back!
1. He is not a pit bull; he has a DNA test to prove it.
2. He has never shown aggression.
Belfast CC’s inability to accept that a mistake was made & address the actual issue (that Lennox is not a BSL candidate) is pathetic. You would think that grown adults, especially grown adults supposedly intelligent & honorable enough to hold office, would be capable of that. Stubbornly clinging to their erroneous decision – insisting blindly that they are right, over & over again – is something a child does.
what belfast city council is doing to lennox is just like what hitler did to a certain race during the war .persecuted for being the wrong race. lennox has not done anything wrong. this case is a farce he is NOT being held because he has done anything wrong or because he’s aggressive he is being held because of 2 reason’s 1, his looks 2, the belfast city council have nothing better to do than persecute a poor defencless family pet if they do this to a poor dog what next ?? if this was a human they would be sued for being racist and defamation of character everyone who knows about this sad case of injustice will remember belfast not for the lovely friendly city that it is. it will be known for a city that is unjust and unfair in what it has done to a poor little girls pet and the BBC have always been bias against bull terriers even thier programme on death row dogs was fixed so that they could make the bull terrier breeds look bad to millions of viewers shame it is run on licence fee payers and not held to account for its one sided blinkered views. they can send a view to millions of viewers. shame its not a honest un biased view
where is the evidence to prove lennox is agressive? nowhere..because he is not,never has been and never will be,so why can they do this to him,its disgusting that they can get away with doing this, some justice system,how do they sleep at night?????????????????
What is happening to Lennox is unjust and unfair. How can the judge who originally ordered the murder of Lennox, be the very SAME judge who heard the appeal? HOW IN THE WORLD is that fair?? It’s not. I’m disgusted with BCC as is the rest of the world.
Lennox needs to be seen immediately by a vet and then returned to his loving owners. Judge the deed, not the breed!
The dog warden should have been fired a long time ago. The European courts need to take a good long look at the judges who have deemed Lennox dangerous. I hope they question how these judges have made the right decision when Lennox has never done anything wrong. There is so much evidence to show that he has been railroaded and been sentenced to die because of lies, ignorance, and the stubborness of those who are unwilling to admit they made a huge mistake. Belfast will forever have a black cloud hanging over its head if the destruction of Lennox is carried out. I do not want to think negatively of Belfast, as I know there are many fine citizens there, but, if Lennox is killed, I, along with thousands of others across the world, will have no other choice.
To those holding Lennox’s fate in your hands: The time is now to step outside your egos, reconnect with your compassion (which you seem to have misplaced), and return this precious being to his loving family. He has harmed no one, and killing him simply because he “might” do something at some point is like racial profiling among humans. Neither has a place in an enlightened society. Are we enlightened? The jury seems to still be out on this question. We are all One.
“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” ~ Chief Seattle
Please send Lennox HOME!!!
DEPRAVED human beings, in position of “power” are sadistic and beyond cruel. This is humanity sinking to a new low, and I hope that justice is served right back to those condemning and torturing this poor creature and his family, and not to mention the public who have all been let down in the most devastating of ways.
This proves that humans have taken a disturbing left turn in times where barbaric acts seemed to have been memories of a distant past. No. It’s right here, in 2012.
I am so angry. The total lack thought which has gone into letting loose a group of individuals with no real qualificatonsf other than some kind of basic training in being able to identify any dog that might somehow have some kind of connection through the shape of his head, or the length of his body, measured with a tape measure, is a criminal act, employing people with no skills other to come up with a quota, and an agenda against society in that they are able to go into any home, and that means yours and mine, and remove your animal companion should they just not like the look of you, or your pet, is like Nazi Germany all over again. Children turning adults Into be sent to death camps.
I understand from what I have seen and read, that this pet is being kept in squalid and damp dirty sawdust, with people who have very lilttle compassion or interest In his survival or emotional we being.
He needs to removed immediately to a safe and suitable place. Home would be best!
The people who removed him, the judges, anyone involved in this sordid affair should prosecuted for this witch hunt, imprisoned for criminal negligence, sued for emotional damages both to the family and the dog, and all expenses paid to the family by Belfast.
The entire subject of breed specific legislation needs to be revised in terms of breeders, and selling a dog that is a destined by his very existence to be picked up at any point and killed, is the real crime. The crimanal is that person who knowing the law breaks it. Any dog already in this world is the child of god, and those of us who value life will protect life.
If you want to make a list of dangerous dogs it is going to be very long, but not as long as the list of dangerous people who hurt, maime, torture, imprison, drive insane, bully, one of the most beautiful things god has given us that add to our joy, or happiness, our companion animals.
Never have we been so united in this Belfast. Ireland the eyes of the world are upon you. You need to admit and expose your mistake and admit to the wrong you have allowed to happen. If you do not and this dog dies, you will be hated and reviled. If you fix it you will have some credit for showing that have tried to correct a terrible injustice.
Bridgit you are so correct I so admire your words in support of Lennox….I pray every night to God that he will show us a sign of his wisdom and teach BCC how important compassion is….Lennox needs to be released NOW and taken to see a vet it is obvious his health is suffering due to neglect. I think a murderer on death row is treated better……
FREED LENNOX NOW!!
Since the day Lennox was seized by the corrupt dog wardens Lennox has never stood a chance for a fair hearing. At the time a passer by shouted, “that dog will take the head of you” and this “evidence” has been used against Lennnox. The case must now be taken out of the hands of the powers that be in N Ireland for they were never going to listen to the dog behaviour experts, instead choosing to accept the word of one ex police dog handler. Northern Ireland is world renown for it’s petty politics and corruption and pig headedness of it’s people. My hope now is that the family do take the case to the supreme court in London. Hopefully in another juridiction Lennox will get the fair hearing he truly deserves. I am ashamed that I live in this country that shows no compassion to animals especially when they have done nothing wrong.
So ….. if someone of a particular nationality commits murder – everyone worlwide of that race should be executed whether a charity worker or a thug. This seems to be the principal here EXCEPT that poor Lennox isn’t even the ‘nationality/breed’ he appears to be, making it even worse.
If the courts used this rule with humans, there won’t be anybody left – maybe not such a bad thing. The world could start again with far better ethics.
Disgusting and attrocious waste of valuable time and money. Do the right thing for Lennox and his family … let him GO HOME
The “evidence” is right in front of you, Belfast!! Wrong address…DNA test….No aggression…No previous incidences. Look at the dog, judges!!!! I can see no aggression in him when I look at his picture. How do you judge a dog by his head size. ANY animal can kill if put in a corner. Its all natural behaviour. I’m so digusted with “wrongful convictions.” This shouldn’t be happening to this family and Lennox. This dog is a therapy dog and his child companion is losing precious time without him. Please, Belfast do the right thing and let Lennox go home. 2 years to us is 14 years to a dog.
I completely agree that the most awful injustice has been done to Lennox and his family and i will keep actions up every day to support him – but I think we have to a) find the people who have influence over the current position and b) help them to change their minds without losing too much public face. I say this not because I agree with their decisions in any way but because it is the quickest and most likely way to result in a better outcome for Lennox. Let’s face it, Lennox may well not be in good condition and in those circumstances, private euthanasia is the best outcome for BCC as no-one will ever really have evidence of the neglect they have effected. So for him to ever be released, to his family or a shelter or another kindly person so that he can see his family in the future, we perhaps have to make this easier for BCC and point the way for them. The time to hold them to account for their actions is when Lennox has been released. What can we do?
it scares me to think that a council and the courts can make a judgement, that according to mps they can do nothing to intervene if the public or they feel theres an injustice done . there is now 147 thousand people who have filled in lennox petition to set him free and im sure i read somewhere , that if you get 100,000 the case can be heard in the house of commons , so why hasnt it ? ..does this mean that if i, had a run in with a vindictive council official , who decided to charge me with something i hadnt done , and lie about it in court ,that the judge wouldnt take all evidence into account ( as in this case, good behaviour for 2 years ,even after all the trauma he must have suffered being locked away from all he knows and loves for the last 2 years ,expert animal behaviourists not being listened too, and instead a dog handlers word favoured above them !!!) WHO IS RUNNING THIS COUNTRY???/ , THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS INJUSTICE , THIS DOG SHOULD BE FREED NOW AND A PUBLIC HEARING SET UP TO FIND OUT WHY THIS CASE HAS BEEN SO BADLY HANDLED !!
other issues that need urgent attention , the owner of a seized dog not allowed to know how the dog is doing ,many people requested under the freedom of infomation act to know how lennox health was , and asked about the conditions that he was living in , to be told its an on going court case so they cannot comment , or thankyou for your message , you will get a reply shortly , i and many other people never recieved a reply to my questions . an independant vet not allowed to examine the dog on behalf of the family as in this case , constant phonecalls which were ignored most of the time according to the barns family . not allowed to see your dog or interact with the dog is cruelty on both sides .being confined to a small cell for many hours a day is also cruelty, the law is breaking its own laws under the animal welfare act . these are living souls ,NOT DISPOSABLE TOYS
Please sign the petition for Lennox!
http://www.petitiononline.com/sl190510/petition.html
This is disgusting. Thre is no evidence at all to prove that lennox has ever been aggressive.If that was the case, he would not have been held for all these years and would have been put down immediatley after the first attack…le him go , back to his rihtful place ?(home)…lets hope justice is fianlly done and they se what a travesty this is ….terrible
Well said everyone..i hope and pray that Lennox can go home to his family..enough is enough..do the rite thing..FREE LENNOX.
The owners have collected donations already, thousands of pounds yet the case has always been funded by legal aid. There are more holes in the owners sotry than in my fishnet tights and yes I was s supporter and I have donated. Paramilitary threats made by the owner, proof of donations of lies and of death threats towards the dog wardens and their friends. The dog IS a pit bull, his owners admitted so in court, try reading the actaul court documents. Even their 3 defence experts all agreed he is a banned breed. Open your eyes and look at the truth people. llaav.com
If this were in any way true it would mean the city council **** up for five whole yrs whilst allowing this poor dog a licence, so what is it then? Did they allow it to live in order to kill it? Which would make them sick ****s or is there incompetence such that they only just realised he was a Pit bull which BTW he is obviously not , tell you what sorry for good people in Belfast but I won’t dream of ever going there god forbid I resemble a wanted criminal and get **** up the same way by such a crappy antiquated and ridiculous justice system. You’re council is doing your city a great favour $39855.00 in cancelled holidays to Belfast and counting! Btw your justice system has no place in modern Europe, same way Ukraine s now going to get a lot of crp for what it’s one belfast will too. Sadly you want to know what is being said in my country most common conclusion? This case has been an eye opener if Belfast allows lying in court and judges to ignore evidence etc who goes to say this is not common practice who goes to say this hasn’t been done In the past , more so Belfast is quickly losing worldwide support and is seen as the baddie all round!
Well then it would make sense to let Lennox leave the country and this would all be over wouldn’t it. Hmmmm You are full of shit lady.
Really Dog Warden Mannering. You are full of it.
Funny Angela you say here you donated to Save Lennox Campaign and were at one time a Supporter. Yet on another article here you say completely different. Lets See what you posted “angela mannering says:
May 20, 2012 at 10:48 am
as someone who came into the campaign late and having seen first hand the threats and intimidation of those who dared to question or correct the information being give out by family members and supporters” You did not appear on the scene until this year Angela when you began posting on SL page about a dog you believed was type and you wanted advice.. Please find a story & stick to it
Angela Mannering, what is your real name? You are the dog warden most likely, or a friend. Shame on you for trying to villify an innocent dog and his family. Lennox is not a pit bull and more importantly, he is innocent and harmless. There is no excuse to break into a home and forcefully remove an innocent dog from his home. Lennox never has shown any aggression nor never ran loose.
The experts all agree that Lennox is NO danger to anyone. You, Belfast City Council, and dog wardens are very dangerous to animals and people. Your cruelty and abuse will never be forgotten. You are condemned worldwide and no one respects you. Your only chance at redemption is to release Lennox immediately to his family or let him be moved to America for rehoming. Many offers for rehoming have been offered for Lennox. Set Lennox free! Allow the innocent dog to be rehomed in America. Lennox deserves happiness and freedom. He is innocent and you have NO REASON to imprison him. The world is watching.
By the way, Belfast City Council keeps removing all negatives comments from their Facebook page and Twitter page as soon as they are posted. Lennox Army marches on.
Freedom for Lennox now!
I so agree with you Naomi, Lennox is NO DANGER TO ANYONE.
LENNOX DESERVES TO BE SET FREE AND REHOMED IN THE US………… WHY WON’T THEY EVEN CONSIDER THIS??? THE POOR DOG IS INNOCENT AND HAS BEEN TRHOUGH MORE THAN ENOUGH SINCE THIS RUBBISH STARTED!
FREEDOM FOR LENNOX NOW – THE WORLD IS WATCHING!
Angela Mannering appeared a few months back. She is part of a vicious coven of people who have continually made claims about Lennox & his family. As you can see and can be confirmed by Ernest my real name is ANGELA MANNERS. This ID to me has been set up to cause confusion. Many times now I have had to explain I am not this ugly human being
This case is a complete farce to save face, a warden fucked up a judge fucked up and the rest won’t undermine his decision all about saving face quite the justice system eh? More corruption if you ask me! A judge condoning obvious perjury just to justify he’s ridiculous verdict makes you wonder how many times perjury has been condoned by these judges everyone has seen the videos everyone has seen the photos they can lie to themselves but not to the world, take this to the UK courts legislation there is different and insist on different more appropriate homing for Lennox means while, the current homing is a conflict of interest as not only is it cruel and breaks a couple of laws itself but he is also being kept by those who want him dead at all costs who is to say he isn’t been taunted and provocked I. Order to bring some aggression out in him? I certainly would not put it past a lying warden or a clown of a judge. Also sue the warden for perjury and sue the council for cruelty take the matter and Lennoxto UK!!!!!! Away from this bunch of idiots! Shame on Belfast! Now the question just begs being asked how many guilty verdicts has this man manipulated? How many times has he condoned perjury? Can u imagine being wrongly accused in Belfast? Scary shit if u tell me! If the justice system wants to be taken seriously first of all it should be that JUST!!!!!! LENNOX Europe is with you Belfast better hope they don’t need a bailout as eu citizens won’t want their tax money wasted on cruel animal abusive systems! Go for it and demand not only fair trial but fair keeping and shelter! Even murdered and rapists are allowed visits ! Your judge seems to have come from world war Germany he definitely takes after Hitler!
The dog warden whose photos we have all seen with Lennox cuddling up to her and licking her like a long lost friend is the one, in my opinion, who deserves to be euthanised. She lied in Court to say she is scared of him and he is an aggressive dog who should be put down yet photos never lie. I hope she will sleep at night. Karma comes to mind. Enough said.
I have no words just tears for Lennox and the family, because everything on here I agree with.