Pig farmer sees jail time for animal cruelty reduced

A pig farmer, who admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a pig by failing to treat it after it was found eaten alive on his farm, has had his 18-month jail term reduced to 12 on appeal.

Rory O’Brien, aged 60, of Killicane, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, had pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of animal cruelty at his farm on dates between May and September 2011.

O’Brien had been indicted on 32 counts — three in respect of the welfare of animals, two for failing to comply with a notice, and 27 for cruelty — and similar charges were brought against his wife and the farm manager.