Two farmers from Co. Armagh have been jailed following convictions for a range of animal welfare offences.
Martha Toal from School House Close, Glenanne, Co. Armagh was convicted at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on October 25 of 12 different charges.
Toal received five months’ imprisonment on six charges and three months’ imprisonment on three charges which are to run concurrently.
She was also fined a total of £600 (€669) plus £500 (€557) costs for the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) costs as well as a £25 (€28) offender levy.
Charges included one charge of failing to dispose of equine carcasses, three charges of causing unnecessary suffering and one charge of failing to attach approved ear tags.
She was disqualified from keeping all animals for life and DAERA was awarded a deprivation order in respect of nine animals currently in its possession.
Meanwhile, Michael Ferris from Shillinghill Road, Mowhan, Co. Armagh was also convicted at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on October 25 of 10 different charges of animal welfare offences.
Ferris received five months’ imprisonment on six charges and three months’ imprisonment on two charges which are to run concurrently.
He was also fined a total £878 (€979) as a result of the court appearance, which broken down as a fine of £350 (€390) plus £500 (€557) DAERA costs and a £25 (€28) offender levy.
Charges included two charges of causing unnecessary suffering, three charges of failing to comply with welfare improvement notices and one charge of failing to produce veterinary medicine records when required to do so.
He was disqualified from keeping all animals for life. DAERA was granted a deprivation order in respect of nine animals currently in its possession.
This case arose as a result of an anonymous complaint about the welfare of the animals kept on the premises, according to the case details.
