Prisoners tend 320 goats for families in Africa

MORE than 320 struggling Ugandan families are set to benefit from presents of goats cared for by Irish prisoners.

Inmates at Shelton Abbey, Wicklow have spent the last three months feeding and minding the animals.

The goats will be transported to Belfast on Monday before being airlifted to east Africa.

Prisoners at Shelton Abbey include some of the longest-serving in the state, among them notorious murderer Malcolm MacArthur and Jimmy Ennis, in jail since 1964.

Inmates have been caring for the animals for Bóthar. The charity’s chief executive Peter Ireton said: “Once the animals start producing milk they will provide their [Ugandan] family, not only with a daily supply of nutritious milk, but also with an income from the sale of surplus milk. Indeed, giving a gift of an Irish dairy goat to a family in Africa will change their lives forever.

“An Irish goat will produce approximately four litres of milk per day — that’s up to four times as much milk as a local cow.”

The goats were grazing on 25-acres of land at the 90-man prison site since early August.

Inmates were tasked with monitoring them, particularly the ones in kid, feeding them regularly as well as cleaning out their housing.

Irish Prison Service director general Brian Purcell yesterday thanked Bóthar for the joint venture as well as Shelton Abbey’s staff and inmates for their hard work.

“The rehabilitation services provided also give prisoners the skills necessary for their reintegration and reduces the risk of them re-offending,” he said.

The 320 goats were paid for by fundraising initiatives in schools last Easter.