The decision by a Northern Ireland court to hand down a custodial sentence to a Co. Antrim farmer for causing “unnecessary suffering to cattle” sends a clear message to those who neglect animals, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has said.
Maurice Rainey (62), Church Road, Randalstown, Antrim was sentenced at Antrim Court on September 20, 2024 of six charges of causing “unnecessary suffering” to bovine animals and one other charge of “failure to hold a carcase” to prevent any animal or bird accessing it.
According to DAERA it is good practice, as well as being a legal requirement, to remove without delay an animal carcase from a farm to prevent spread of disease and protect public health and avoid detrimental effects on the environment.
Rainey received a custodial sentence for ten months – ten months on license and was “disqualified from keeping, owning, participating in keeping animals, being party to an arrangement under which animals are kept, from transporting and arranging transport of all animals for 10 years”.
Antrim Court
The case had come before Antrim Court following a complaint reporting two carcasses in a field at the junction of Church Road and Clonkeen Road in Co. Antrim.
As a result of this DAERA Veterinary Service staff and Welfare and Enforcement Branch staff carried out multiple inspections between the March 7, 2024 and April 24, 2024.
During these inspections they found animals in need of veterinary attention and multiple carcasses. Six animals were euthanised by the DAERA veterinary officer present, as in their opinion the animals were suffering unnecessarily.
DAERA has welcomed the sentence handed down by Antrim Court to Maurice Rainey (62), Church Road, Randalstown, Antrim and said it sent out “a clear message that those who neglect animals will be pursued by DAERA and punished accordingly”.
“This was a shocking case of animal neglect and animal suffering.
“It was also a distressing case for the local inspectors, vets and enforcement officers who had to attend the farm,” the DAERA spokesperson added.
