A farmer has been sentenced to three months in jail after he pleaded guilty to allowing more than 80 cattle to starve to death.
Oliver O'Connor (39), Bartlemy, Co Cork, had pleaded guilty earlier at Mitchelstown District Court to animal cruelty and allowing carcases to remain unburied in a manner likely to lead to environmental pollution.
Veterinary inspector Martin Lane said he visited the farm last May where he found the carcases of more than 80 cattle scattered around four sites, while he found other animals in need of urgent medical attention.
"I have not come across a worse case and would have considered it a dereliction of my duty if I had not advised Mr O'Connor to seek medical help," Mr Lane told Judge Michael Pattwell at the earlier court hearing.
Mr Lane returned to the farm with Garda Mark Allen in August, three months after his initial investigation, and he found another dead animal with its feet and head bound.
O'Connor's solicitor Daniel Johnson said his client had overextended himself by leasing extra land which had left him €600,000 in debt and he became depressed. Judge Pattwell sentenced O'Connor to three months in jail and imposed fines totalling €6,800.