Two Co Wexford brothers who are working in agriculture in Kenya have been ordered to pay €13,000 in relation to cruelty to animals.
The court was told that one of the offences took place at the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis after their herd had been culled by the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Macartan O'Gorman, solicitor, told the court that the two defendants were unable to attend as they were in Kenya where they were working in agriculture, but their two brothers were present on their behalf.
A guilty plea was entered for William Walsh, Ballyvadden, Wells, Gorey, charged at Enniscorthy District Court with permitting a carcass to remain unburied in a field in March 2001 and with failing to inspect the condition and state of health of his animals.
A guilty plea was also entered for Mervyn Walsh, also of Ballyvadden, charged with ill-treating animals by not providing sufficient food in February 2001 and with being the owner of sheep which he failed to save from unnecessary suffering.
Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla ordered that Mervyn Walsh pay €10,000 and William Walsh €3,000, both to the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, by April 23rd when he would determine the sentences.
Food company fined for polluting
A Wexford food company has been fined more than €3,000 for permitting pollution above the regulated levels. Slaney Foods International Ltd, Clohamon, Bunclody, was fined €700 on each of three charges where the emissions exceeded the regulated level between October 22nd, 2001, and December 2nd, 2001, and €1,000 with €5,679 costs, in relation to a further offence.
Drugs collected in hospital grounds
A man who was caught collecting drugs in the grounds of a psychiatric hospital in Waterford has been given a four-year prison sentence with 2½ years suspended. Gerald Coughlan (19), Viewmount, Waterford, pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Court to possession of cannabis resin for sale and supply.
Drug Squad detectives mounted an operation in the grounds of St Otteran's Hospital, Waterford, and arrested Coughlan, who had two bars of cannabis resin with a street value of over €6,000. In a follow-up search of his home, they found €735 and a list of customers.
Man jailed for holding heroin
A Dublin man who was asked by a neighbouring drug-dealer to hold heroin valued at up to €110,000 has been sentenced to five years in jail. Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court suspended the last three years taking into account the defendant's age and lack of such convictions.
Patrick O'Neill (55), single, O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, was described as an honest, decent, hard-working gentleman by witnesses who said they were privileged to be his friend and shocked at him getting into this trouble. He was an employee of the Dublin Theatre Festival.