A STUD farm owner has successfully appealed a conviction of cruelty to a horse which had suffered a laceration to its face.
Eamon Salmon (73) was sentenced to three months in prison in June last year for cruelty to the yearling. Athy Circuit Court yesterday heard that ISPCA inspector Brendan Hughes had seized the horse at Mr Salmon's land at Ballylinen, Co Laois, on September 1st, 2006, after a member of the public alerted him.
Mr Hughes said the horse had a wound on its face, six-inches long and one inch deep, where a canvas head collar had grown into the animal's flesh.
Michelle Smith deBruin, for Mr Salmon, said the injuries were not caused by a wanton disregard for the animal. Her client had recently had hip surgery and found it difficult to get to the animal from his home at Athy, 10 miles away.
Judge Michael White found the injuries were not caused by deliberate neglect and allowed the appeal. Mr Salmon agreed to surrender the animal to the ISPCA.