A MOTHER and daughter have been banned from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for 10 years following convictions for animal cruelty.
Judge Gerard Haughton described as “horrific” images of three ponies whose unpared hoofs caused so much pain that the ISPCA had no choice but to put them to sleep.
Ester and Caitríona Molony, Ballindoolin House, Edenderry, Co Offaly, each pleaded guilty to three counts of animal cruelty at Edenderry District Court.
The ponies were seized by the ISPCA last May but inspector Brendan Hughes said they had been left for up to four years without foot-care. This resulted in two of the animals developing curled hooves.
In one case the hooves of a 20- year-old mare were 18 inches long and had curled into the animal’s forelock, breaking skin and causing infection and scarring. A 10- year-old gelding developed extremely painful cloven feet as its untended hooves grew inwards because of its different bone structure.
Mr Hughes said this animal had possibly been in more pain than the others, despite his less obvious appearance of physical suffering, because he would have been forced to walk on his toes at all times.
Despite extensive veterinary care and significant farrier treatment, a decision was made by the ISPCA to put them to sleep to prevent further suffering.
A member of the public had alerted the ISPCA to the plight of the animals, which were kept in a paddock at the back of the house.
The court heard that the women had difficulty in getting a farrier to attend the farm, possibly because they had reduced the number of equines in their care and the farrier may have deemed it not worth his while.
In their grief following the death of Ester Molony’s husband, Robert, in January 2007, they had been under enormous pressure to maintain the house and farm and were only able to prevent their sale because of ground rents accruing from properties belonging to Mrs Molony in Dublin.
Nevan O’Shaughnessy said his clients, who run a working farm and who open stately Ballindoolin House to the public, were mortified and embarrassed. He described them as “extremely respectable people”.
Caitríona Molony waited in the courtroom with her four-week- old son until the case was heard after one o’clock.
Judge Gerard Haughton, who described images of the neglect as “horrific”, said he would not accept the defence of the farrier not turning up because the “very obvious neglect” had been going on for several years.
He ordered the Molonys to pay costs of over €500 to the ISPCA which is to be informed if the women wished to have the ban lifted on appeal.