Graham Beck - the mastermind behind the illegal dog-breeding operation at Katesbridge, Co Down - received a two-month prison sentence at Armagh Magistrate's Court last Thursday after pleading guilty to a series of animal cruelty charges.

The dog-hater was also fined £500, instructed to pay court costs of £350 and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

His father, Robert Beck, received the same sentence after he pleaded guilty to a litany of animal cruelty offences.

Another son, Clarke Beck, who admitted his involvement in the slum puppy farm, received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also instructed to pay court costs of £500 and banned from keeping animals for 10 years. A court order was made for his pit-bull terrier to be destroyed.

The Becks were all been released pending an appeal.

USPCA chief executive Stephen Philpott welcomed the court's decision.

Said Mr Philpott: "The custodial sentences, fines and 10-year ban from keeping animals imposed on three members of the Beck family are an indication of the uncompromising attitude now being taken by courts in cases involving animal cruelty.

"The conditions endured by the dogs incarcerated on the family farms were amongst the worst encountered by the USPCA.

"The animals were kept in rat-infested sheds and fed on calf carcasses in a filth-ridden breeding operation that put wealth before welfare.

"The custodial sentences should act as a deterrent to others prepared to exploit animals for profit."

The Becks, who are well-known to the USPCA, were responsible for feeding calves and lambs to starving boxers, rottweilers and westies, allowing various dog breeds to live in concrete pits and sub-zero conditions, and leaving lamb and calf carcasses to rot.

The defendants also failed to provide bedding for the dogs and permitted six westie pups to live in tiny makeshift dens made from wooden doors.

USPCA officials also discovered a treadmill used for training and strengthening fighting dogs.

Other dead animals were also found on rubbish tips, which had been set on fire.

The charges related to a USPCA and police raid on the puppy farm in January 2006.

Following the raid, Sunday Life published shocking images from the farm which showed a horrifying catalogue of abuse and cruelty.