CONCERNS about the welfare of animals on a farm in west Clare have been aired in court, by a veterinary inspector.
After a court heard that animals on the farm were thin and hungry and were confined by an electric fence, the farmer undertook to rectify the situation within two months.
Patrick Shannon (55), of Carrowna- calla South, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to four charges of cruelly ill-treating animals.
Veterinary inspector Vincent Lam- bert told Kilrush District Court that inspections were carried out on the defendant’s farm on a number of oc- casions late last year.
‘He has been visited on his farm since 2003 in relation to welfare of animals kept on the farm,” he said.
‘“T have observed a deterioration of
the situation,” he added.
He said that the animals were con- fined by an electric fence, while the animals were very thin and hungry.
“Over a period of time, we have served notices on Mr Shannon. He has failed to comply,’ he said. For instance, he said, Mr Shannon had been asked not to confine the ani- mals by an electric fence, while he had also been advised to reduce stock numbers on his farm.
During one visit, on September 23 last year, he said the animals were being strip grazed, confined by an electric fence. “The animals were empty looking. They were lowing for feed. We discussed the situation with Mr Shannon. He failed to appreci- ate the situation, that animals were suffering. We advised him to reduce numbers and clean out the sheds and prepare for winter storage,” he said.
He said he visited the farm again
on October 7, when the animals were on bare ground. “They were on their knees, in an attempt to reach grass outside the electric fence. They were in danger of shock from the electric fence,” he said.
Further visits took place on Novem- ber 12 and 19, but issues remained. The animals were still confined and were on their knees, trying to get ac- cess to grass.
Defence solicitor Michael Ryan said his client was sincere but mis- guided and Mr Lambert agreed with Wen Ke
“He had strongly held views. He might not have appreciated the se- riousness of the matter or the dete- rioration the animals had suffered,’ said Mr Ryan.
He said his client’s family had op- erated the farm, which was “a prime holding” of over 80 acres, for more than 100 years. “He had views which
we may not agree with, on the ecol- ogy of the farm. He hadn’t used fer- tiliser on the farm for 12 years. He didn’t agree with it,” he said.
He said his client had had a prob- lem with a neighbour and this had been on his mind a lot. He said the accused would undertake to cease strip grazing with immediate effect, indefinitely, while he would no long- er use an electric fence.
“He would go about tagging and testing of the animals, with a view to disposing of all 35 animals,” he CrHG
“The primary concern should be for the animals,’ said the solicitor.
He said the defendant would give an undertaking to rectify the situa- tion within two months.
Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case for two months and said, ‘He has a problem if everything isn’t done in two months’ time.”