GARDAÍ DISCOVERED a sheep skeleton and other dying animals when they visited a farm in Co Donegal.
Gardaí were tipped off by animal welfare officers about possible cases of cruelty on the farm of Joseph McBride (56).
Sgt Christy Galligan told Letterkenny District Court he had called to the farm at Murlog, Downings, in February and March 2010. He found a lame goat in poor condition, a dead lamb and the skeleton of a sheep.
The court was also told a number of other animals were in poor condition.
McBride was charged with failing to remove dead animals from his property.
Pictures of the scene were given to Judge Paul Kelly who said: “I’d like to thank the sergeant for being helpful to me as the photographs don’t make for attractive viewing, I have to say.”
Defence solicitor Kieran Dillon told the court McBride was a small farmer who had been suffering from ill health and that improvements had been made on the farm since the incident.
ISPCA inspector Kevin McGinley said they could not say for certain how the animals had died or had suffered. “While we have no way of knowing how the animals died in this case, we can say that leaving them lying unburied like this is totally wrong.
“This is not an issue about the recession or lack of money. There is simply no excuse for failing to properly dispose of a dead animal. We would urge the public to be our eyes and ears in cases like this. It is important for public health that dead or dying animals are removed.”
Judge Kelly ordered McBride to pay €250 to the ISPCA and allow for another inspection of his farm before June 11th.
- The headline on the online version of this article was amended on January 10th, 2012.