A scene at a Co Monaghan farm where gardai and a veterinary officer found 36 cattle starved to death in March was described in court yesterday.
Peter Finegan (49) pleaded guilty at Castleblayney District Court to permitting 36 animals to suffer unnecessarily from starvation on his farm at Lisagore near Carrickmacross. He was also charged with failing to bury carcasses of animals which died.
The farmer claimed he was unable to get feed for his livestock. Garda Insp Noel Cunningham said Finegan admitted he shot some of the animals to end their suffering.
Judge Flann Brennan ordered a probation report to be prepared and adjourned the case to January 17th.