A judge has ordered a farmer to sell his sheep and never engage in sheep-farming again after hearing details of what he described as "an appalling case" of animal cruelty in which "excruciating pain" had been inflicted on sheep and lambs.
Loughrea District Court heard how the Co Galway farmer told gardaí that the cost would not justify him getting a veterinary surgeon for sheep that were dying of starvation on his holding.
Judge Sean MacBride told John Corcoran (57), of Clashaganny, Kiltullagh, Athenry, that his attitude was "totally selfish and beyond comprehension". Corcoran, who had a previous conviction for cruelty to sheep, admitted charges of cruelty between April 29th and May 3rd this year.
Garda Kevin Devally told the court of going to Corcoran's farm on May 1st where he found 13 dead sheep, three of which were lambs. He found three sheep unable to get up because they were so weak. One dead sheep was buried up to its belly in four feet of muck. There was no feed whatsoever.
Ms Elizabeth O'Flynn, a veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture, told the court that she visited the farm on May 1st and when she went to the rear of the house she was "absolutely appalled" by the sight of dead and suffering sheep.
Judge McBride returned the case to January 8th for a Probation Report on Mr Corcoran's suitability to carry out community service work and for all expenses in the case to be paid.
On one of the summonses for permitting carcasses to be remain unburied he imposed a fine of €150.