Couple with 14 dogs fined over noise hell

A COUPLE have been told to pay thousands of pounds after the noise from their barking dogs “took over” their neighbours’ lives.

- By EDWARD BARNES

Stephen and Layla McGulgan following the verdict yesterday

People living near Stephen and Layla McGuigan made scores of complaints about the row made by their 14 dogs.

Yesterday, a judge said the “defensive and dismissive” couple's actions “could be described as a deliberate and flagrant disregard” of Wirral Council's notice to control the excessive noise from the animals.

The couple, of St David Road, Eastham, Wirral, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court yesterday and were each found guilty by District Judge Paul Healey of four charges of contravention or failure to comply with a noise abatement notice.

These charges had been denied by the couple, who claimed they had taken steps to address concerns and accused those raising issues of unconscious bias and lies.