Declan Garrity. (Instagram)
A financial analyst has been accused of torturing his roommate’s cat in their Manhattan apartment for three months, the New York Police Department says.
Declan Garrity, 24, was arrested on two counts of aggravated cruelty, one for causing extreme physical pain and another for acting in a depraved/sadistic manner, the New York Daily News reports.
The cat, Lucy, is in intensive care. Her owner, Danielle, told DNA Info that Lucy has undergone several surgeries at an animal medical center, but is improving.
“Last night when I visited, she was purring,” said Danielle, who declined to give her last name.
Garrity is an analyst at Barclays and is originally from Northern Ireland.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Cat Suffered Broken Bones, Burns, Broken Claws & Muscle Damage, Police Say
(Facebook)
Lucy, the cat, suffered two right-leg fractures and a fracture of the left pelvis, police said in court documents, according to the Daily News.
The cost for her care has already passed $12,000, police said.
A veterinarian found past injuries including three broken ribs, AM NY reports.
Garrity appeared in court for the first time Thursday and was held on $5,000 bail. His next court appearance is set for February 29.
2. Lucy’s Owner Found Her Hiding in Her Apartment With a Back Foot Facing the Wrong Way & Damp Fur
(Instagram)
Danielle, Lucy’s owner, said she came home Saturday to find the cat hiding in the back of her carrier. One of Lucy’s paws was “facing the wrong direction,” and she had wet and missing fur, DNA Info reports, citing court documents.
She took Lucy to a vet and found the broken bones, along with burns on her tail and thighs, Danielle told DNA Info. She said she texted Garrity, who did not respond.
Danielle said she has had to take the cat to the vet several times for injuries since Garrity moved in, but thought it was a medical condition. Abuse was not suspected.
“My head doesn’t go to someone ripping my cat’s nails out,” she told the news website. “No one suspected it until now. It’s nauseating.”
3. The Cat’s Owner Says She Met Garrity Through Craigslist
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Danielle, Lucy’s owner, told DNA Info she met Garrity through Craigslist.
“I met him a couple of times, called his references and Googled him, but he had no record,” she said. “He was a really great roommate and told me he had grown up with a cat and his parents had a dog. I didn’t see this coming. I hope he gets the punishment he deserves and is convicted rightfully. I never want to see him again.”
He moved into the Upper East Side apartment with Danielle in November 2015.
4. Garrity Has Worked at Barclays as an Analyst Since 2014 & Has Been Placed on Leave
(Instagram)
Garrity has worked as a financial analyst at Barclays since 2014, according to his Linkedin page. He has been placed on leave, the company says.
“Barclays placed him on a leave of absence pending a thorough investigation,” a spokesman for the company told CNBC.
“Four years experience in financial planning, project management and setting strategy. Key skills in working in teams from international backgrounds, leadership, strategic thinking and quantitative analysis,” he says on his Linkedin page. “International Volunteering experience in Russia, South Africa and Mozambique. A competitive market orientated professional with an interest in global markets and multinational companies. Motivated by maintaining a tight work ethic, constantly learning whilst being challenged.”
He was previously a research analyst at HMC Global in Belfast.
5. He Is Originally From Northern Ireland & Graduated From Queen’s University in Belfast Before Moving to the United States
(Instagram)
Garrity is originally from Northern Ireland and is in the United States on a work visa.
According to his Linkedin page, Garrity studied at Queen’s University in Belfast. He then moved to the United States for graduate school, attending Hult International Business School in Massachusetts.
