Judge 'left with no choice' but to revoke bail of farmer facing animal cruelty charges

A Mayo farmer who is due to go on trial on a large number of animal cruelty charges, has been remanded in custody following an application by the state to revoke his bail.

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, Co Roscommon.

The Director of Public Prosecutions sought to revoke Mr Coughlan's bail following an alleged failure to respond to correspondence issued in January of this year.

At the previous sittings of Roscommon Circuit Court in October, Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed a further bail condition on both Mr Coughlan and his company, that they comply with any lawful requirement made of them by an authorised officer employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

A letter sent to Mr Coughlan in November detailing concerns relating to BVD testing, correct tagging of animals, staffing issues, and a total of 263 "discrepancies" between the herd profile on record and the submitted TB test results received a response, however a further correspondence in January outlining continued concerns was not addressed.

That initial letter also raised concerns that Mr Coughlan was moving animals between herds without the appropriate clearance, and directed him to cease this practice immediately.

An inspection carried out on the farm earlier this month found a number of animal welfare issues, and 15 dead calves in one location of the farm.

Furthermore, Mr Coughlan had moved 100 cows from his Roscommon farm to his Mayo farm, and 86 cows from his Mayo farm to the Roscommon holding on February 2nd, despite the direction to stop.

Judge Connolly revoked bail after considering Mr Coughlan's likely conduct between now and the start of his trial.

"I have satisfied myself that he would continue to operate as he sees fit," he said, adding that, "I’m definitely and absolutely of the opinion that he has left me with no choice but to revoke his bail and that is what I will do, effective immediately."

Mr Coughlan was remanded in custody pending his trial in June. 

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.

He will appear on the trial list at Roscommon Circuit Court on June 3rd, 2026.

*Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme