Paedo drag queen who died after intercourse with males and canine had roads closed for funeral

A convicted paedophile drag queen who died after having sex with multiple men and a dog-walker’s pet had roads closed for his horse-drawn funeral procession.

Darren Meah-Moore, 39, was found dead in a secluded car park covered in cardboard boxes by a friend in January 2023 after a night that saw him have sexual encounters with three men and a dog, an inquest heard.

The registered sex offender, who performed in clubs under the name Crystal Couture and CC Quinn, was found in his full drag queen attire.

Months later following his death, officials from Cardiff Council and South Wales Police organised the closure of three busy streets in Cardiff city centre for the horse-drawn funeral procession for Meah-Moore on March 9.

Mill Lane, Canal Street, and Hayes Bridge Road were shut for well over an hour for the procession, which at the time was feared to be met with protest over Meah-Moore’s convictions.

Meah-Moore was jailed in March 1999 after being convicted of four counts of rape of a boy under 16.

In 2011, he was also sentenced to a three-year community order and given 300 hours of unpaid work for breaching of a sex offender’s order. He was caught working with children as a dance and gymnastics coach, according to the spectator.

Comments on social media sparked fear of some possibly protesting against the procession as some called it “insane”. The decision divided people online due to the age he was at the time of his conviction and people close to him claiming Meah-Moore had turned his life around.

A GoFundMe, which was also set up at the time and raised over £6k, also sparked controversy online after donations were asked to give him “the biggest send off”.

One person said: “Wow like over 6k raised so he can have a nice send off. What about the poor innocent kids he left traumatised.”

Another wrote: “This is insane. I get that people loved him, maybe not knowing his real past, but imagine his victims, seeing so much love for someone who was so vile to them, and closing off a city to celebrate his life… madness!”

As reported by University of South Wales student newspaper The DiffDaff at the time, a mourner who knew the victim’s husband said he could understand people’s frustrations. He said: “Obviously I can understand people’s frustrations, but I just think that today people should just respect what the day is, and leave it there.”

The funeral procession took place without any issues despite online rumours of a possible protest and was attended by friends and family.

A hearing into Meah-Moore’s death has been held this week with medical experts unable to find a definitive cause of Meah-Moore’s death, other than the belief he suffered from a dog allergy.

Dr Tomaz Garcez said the allergy would have added to the “risk factors” which could have caused his death along with conditions asthma, hay fever, and eczema, together with alcohol consumption and exhaustion.

But Dr Garcez said there were no known cases of anyone suffering analphayltic reaction to “dog seminal fluid”.

He said: “I’m not aware of it ever occurring. The only comment I’d make is if that it was the only remaining plausible hypothesis, it would have to be considered as possible.

“But in the absence of any prior cases, it is hard to attribute, and we should be confident every other avenue has been excluded.”

Meah-Moore was found dead in January 2023 with his body “partially covered up” by cardboard boxes.

He had been last seen in a full face make-up and blonde wig in the early hours of the morning after leaving the Pulse nightclub in Cardiff.

CCTV played to the inquest showed married Meah-Moore walking along Cardiff’s main shopping street alongside another man – with the man’s dog following behind.

The man said he went to a secluded car park with Meah-Moore and began to have sexual activity with him before the dog joined in.

The dog’s owner – who cannot be identified – said he tried to “shoo” the animal away but Meah-Moore told him not to.

The owner said he “lost interest” when Meah-Moore continued to allow the dog to have sex with him. He said that Meah-Moore fell asleep and could not be roused.

Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard the owner left to get something to cover up sleeping Meah-Moore – but left his dog behind.

He said: “I had no idea Darren was in any trouble or danger.” The owner was asked if he had no control over his dog to stop the act.

He replied “Yes I could have. It would’ve worked but Darren wanted to let him try. I’m sorry that’s a fact. Who would think somebody wants to have sex with a dog but apparently he did. I was told to leave him be.

“Because it was consensual and desired I let him do what he was asked to do. I had never seen something like that before. I could have stopped it and I should have stopped it but I didn’t.”

The dog’s owner was later arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but later released without charge.

Meah-Moore was reported missing by his husband the following morning – and a worker at the club said she saw him enter a nearby car park.

Nightclub manager Sean Rogers learned of his disappearance and went to check the car park and could see part of his dress from the previous night.

Mr Rogers said when he got out of his car he found Meah-Moore’s body covered with flattened out carboard boxes which had “definitely been placed on top of him”. He said the boxes were “covering a large part of his body.”

Mr Rogers said he tried to rouse his friend but when he got no response ran back to his car to phone the emergency services.

He performed CPR until paramedics took over but Meah-Moore was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest heard tributes from Meah-Moore’s father and husband who described him as “caring” and “right at the heart of Cardiff’s gay community”.

A tribute from Darren’s family said: “Darren Moore was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle and friend.

“He was always the life and soul where ever he went, he was our social butterfly. He made sure he had a lot of time for people, and never judged others.

“Darren’s husband and family want to thank everyone for their support but now need time to grieve and respectfully request privacy at this time.”

The Pontypridd inquest, due to last four days, continues.

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