60 cases of animal cruelty in court since laws

Sixty cases of animal cruelty have been brought before the courts since new legislation was introduced two years ago.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed also confirmed 23 convictions have been secured to date.

The highest number of convictions were recorded in Cork and Meath at four each, with two in Wicklow, Donegal and Roscommon since the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 was introduced in 2014. Single convictions have been recorded in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Louth, Waterford, and Westmeath.