Second group of dead cattle discovered

MORE than 40 cattle have been found dead in Co Waterford — less than 24 hours after the carcasses of 60 cows and calves were found rotting on a farm in North Cork.

Gardaí investigating the discovery of the 60 dead cattle at Shanballymore, near Mallow, revealed yesterday that they are questioning their owner, a 41-year-old farmer, about neglect under the Protection of Animals Act.

The latest harrowing discovery was made when Dungarvan gardaí, acting on a tip-off, went to the farm at Knockenpower, Colligan, five miles outside the town on Wednesday evening.

Accompanied by a local Department of Agriculture inspector Cecil Alexander, they found 41 carcasses strewn around the farm.

Gardaí believe that the dead cattle, almost half of a herd, may have been left lying exposed on the farm for several months.

There were carcasses all over the place, it was a distressing sight,” a garda spokesman said yesterday.

“They may well have been there for the entire wintering period,” he added.

The most immediate priority of Department of Agriculture officials will be to ascertain the exact cause of the animal deaths, but it could be up to two weeks before that particular task has been completed.

The garda spokesman said that they are now in the process of instigating what will be a very full and detailed investigation and which will include interviewing the owner of the farm.

However, the spokesman refused to comment at this stage as to whether or not a prosecution will follow. “It would be inappropriate to do so,” he said.

The spokesman confirmed that arrangements are now being made for the disposal of the 41 carcasses in accordance with official departmental regulations.

Meanwhile, a number of Department of Agriculture vets and officials spent several hours at the farm yesterday where they carried out tests on more than 40 other surviving cattle in the herd.

Gardaí in North Cork said they had interviewed the Shanballymore farmer but had also spoken to a number of his neighbours.

“There are 125 cattle still left on the farm and some of them are quite weak,” a garda spokesman said.

Department of Agriculture officials are carrying out a full inspection of the 130-acre farm and preparing a full report which will be made available to gardaí within two weeks.