A convicted paedophile who went on to stab a horse to death in a brutal act of revenge, has had current bail terms relaxed for him to travel to the Ballinasloe Horse Fair in County Galway at the weekend.
Mark McGurk (27) previously from Cookstown but now of Glenpark Road, Gortin was already on bail for the sickening animal cruelty attack, when he sexually assaulted a child after a cocaine and alcohol binge at a party in October 2019.
Originally charged with rape, McGurk pleaded guilty to a lesser count of child sexual activity on the day his trial was to begin at Dungannon Crown Court.
During an adjournment for pre-sentence reports, McGurk was controversially permitted a bail variation to accompany his girlfriend to her college formal in the Europa Hotel, Belfast.
On return for sentencing, McGurk’s barrister complained that press coverage of this caused “significant distress” but the judge swiftly responded, “He is the author of his own misfortune.”
Despite a reference from his parish priest who contended McGurk has “great integrity and very high moral standards” he was jailed for 15 months and placed under the Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).
He thereafter continually denied the horse stabling charge at Dungannon Magistrates Court despite District Judge Michael Ranaghan describing the case as having no defence.
McGurk finally accepted deliberately causing unnecessary suffering to the horse, which was discovered when police arrived at his stables on June 2019.
Obvious puncture wounds were observed, and a knife was lying nearby which McGurk claimed his friend – Harry Evans – had used to stab the horse.
Officers attend Evan’s home who had received a video from McGurk clearly showing the horse being stabbed.
McGurk was arrested and with the exception of claiming to own the horse, made no comment.
A vet set out the severity of the injuries, confirming the horse had to be put down.
Judge Ranaghan remarked: “I can’t see anything but revenge. Repeatedly stabbing that totally innocent animal which had the misfortune to be in the defendant’s care, was a profoundly evil act. I cannot begin to imagine the level of what that defenceless horse suffered involving extreme pain, fear and distress. This wasn’t a moment of madness. It was at least four moments of madness. Blood was pooling around that defenceless animal’s feet. That level of evil cruelty is disturbing.”
McGurk was jailed for seven months which Judge Ranaghan ordered to be added to the sentence he is currently serving along with a seven year ban on owning any animal.
Then last year McGurk was charged with multiple counts of breaching the SOPO with a detective telling Omagh Magistrates Court of the previous convictions for, “Sexual activity with a child and stabbing a horse to death, demonstrating a propensity for violence.”
Although bailed, McGurk was arrested again on May 13 at Scarffes Entry, Omagh and charged with breaching the SOPO by entering into a relationship without disclosing his criminal record.
He denies all charges and an application was made for his bail conditions to be varied to allow him to attend the horse fair, which was granted and conditions were suspended from midnight on October 4 for 24 hours.
While McGurk was banned from owning animals, this does not extend to working with animals.
Despite this being repeatedly raised as a loophole, the PSNI have refused to take any action to amend the court order.
They also did not object to McGurk’s current bail variation.
Earlier this year he walked free from court having been charged with breaching the ban by having a dog, however the judge in that instance said the order relates only to ownership and the dog was registered to McGurk’s brother.
