A district court judge has given a Co Waterford farmer two months to "put his house in order" or face being banned for life from keeping cattle.
Mr Michael Hickey (60), Gortaclode, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals between January 25th and February 7th, 2002, leaving a carcass exposed, continually failing to keep a register under the bovine tuberculosis regulations, failing to keep his animals tested and failing to fix tags to the ears of five cattle.
Concerns over the cattle's welfare had caused a superintendent veterinary inspector to contact Mr Hickey's neighbours and the local IFA branch.
The inspector and gardaí visited the farm on January 25th, 2002 and found 55 animals in poor condition. One animal was lying on its back and it was thought to be dead. When examined, it was found the animal couldn't get up and he "put the animal down on the spot with a lethal injection".
Subsequently, another cow's carcass was found behind a hedge in the field.
The court heard that under the Protection of Animals Act, the inspectors were asking for Mr Hickey to be prevented from keeping animals in the future.
However, solicitor for the defendant, Mr Pat Newell, told the court that his client had a triple by-pass operation, suffered from angina and due to the rundown nature of the family home he now lived in a mobile home on the land which was without running water, electricity or proper sanitation.
He also stressed that Mr Hickey had not been intentionally cruel.
Judge William Harnett expressed concern over the danger of such farming practices to other farmers in the area.
"This is a serious criminal offence. There is an opportunity to put his house in order and he should strongly reconsider his future if he is unable to do that."
Judge Harnett adjourned the case until April 10th. "You have two months to put your house in order, this is not fair to the people farming adjacent to you".