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.