Farmer jailed for animal cruelty

A judge yesterday jailed a west Clare farmer for six months for the “appalling cruelty” to his cattle.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan said the scale of the cruelty perpetrated by Patrick Shannon, aged 60, of Carnaculla, Kilrush, on his cattle “is staggering”.

Judge Durcan said evidence was provided yesterday by a Department of Agriculture inspector outlining a lack of water, lack of shelter, and lack of forage for the animals, with some penned by an electric fence.

The judge said the cruelty had occurred during the harshest of winters.

Judge Durcan said the cruelty is in the context of Shannon being “in flagrant breach” of an order made last November ordering the farmer dispose of his herd.

At Kilrush District Court last November, Judge Durcan ordered that the 73 cattle owned by Shannon be taken from him. He had also imposed a 10-month suspended jail sentence on the married father of three.

Yesterday, Shannon protested: “My cattle are content. They are fed twice a day. They are fed hay and nuts and they are doing fine. They are not cold.”

Judge Durcan said: “Nothing has improved and, if anything, the situation is disimproving.”