Judge fines farmer €5k for unregistered herd

A judge yesterday declined a request for leniency for a dairy farmer who had 48 unregistered animals in his West Cork herd.

Judge James McNulty said farmer Anthony Dineen’s breaches of the disease of animals act potentially had “catastrophic” consequences not only for neighbouring farms but the national herd.

He fined Dineen, aged 46, a total of €5,000 and imposed a three-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.