Judge calls for more sentencing powers in animal health and welfare cases after Roscommon farmer (71) is fined and jailed
The farmer was fined and jailed at asitting of Roscommon District Court. Pic: Gerard O'Loughlin
A district court judge has called for expanded sentencing options to deal with animal health and welfare cases, saying that the existing penalties are not sufficient.
At a sitting of Roscommon District Court, a 71 year old farmer who left animal carcasses on land for months was jailed for five months for failing to have his cattle tested for TB. He was also fined a total of €6,000 and banned from holding animals for farming purposes for five years. Photos of the carcasses, which were said to be significantly decomposed, were handed into court and the prosecutions were taken by the Department of Agriculture.
Sentencing, Judge James Faughnan said he took the offences most seriously, adding he was reluctant to call the accused a farmer as farming was all about looking after animals and husbandry. He said it was unacceptable to leave carcasses on land for months.
He was informed that most of the offences could only attract fines, and he imposed two €3,000 fines and a five month prison sentence. He also banned the accused from holding livestock for five years.
The judge commented that the department should look at expanding the range of penalties available to the courts, saying the current ones were not good enough. He asked that the department be made aware of the need for appropriate sentencing options to be made available. (see full story in Roscommon Herald print edition)
