Farmer charged with animal cruelty expected to face trial in the autumn

A farmer who is due to go on trial for a large number of animal cruelty charges in October, will have his case reappear before Roscommon Circuit Court later this month for mention, to give his new legal team an opportunity to go through the book of evidence.

Sean Coughlan, with an address at Lahardane, Ballina, County Mayo, and Coughlan Farming Ltd, for which Mr Coughlan is sole director, are facing a combined total of 78 charges connected to the welfare of animals on a farm at Laragan, Elphin, County Roscommon.

He appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly last week, when his new representation, Fergal McMorrow BL, told the court that he had only just received the book of evidence and would need time to go through it.

Judge Connolly, noting that the trial would take four weeks and would therefore not be accommodated during the current sessions of Roscommon Circuit Court, said that he was hoping to secure a four-week special sitting in the autumn.

Despite that, he said he would like to list it on an earlier date for a pre-trial hearing before the end of this month.

Sean O’Quigley BL, instructed by State Solicitor Kieran Madigan on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), outlined that this was the third time Mr Madigan has handed over disclosure.

Mr Coughlan was remanded in custody in March by Judge Connolly after the Director of Public Prosecutions sought to revoke bail following failure to respond to correspondence issued in January of this year.

He was granted bail in the High Court a few weeks later.

He was remanded on continuing bail to June 19th for a pre-trial hearing.

The charges against him and the company for which he is director, relate to allegations from the Department of Agriculture that up to 500 calves had died on the farm between 2023 and 2025.

• Published as part of the Court Reporting Scheme.