A farmer who admitted to starving his pigs until they cannibalised each other has been jailed for 18 months.
Rory O'Brien, of Killicane, Cork, had previously pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to five charges including that he failed to prevent unnecessary suffering by failing to treat or euthanise some animals which were eaten alive by others.
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain called Mr O'Brien's offences "cruelty on an industrial scale."
The court heard the farmer starved his pigs and failed to give them proper supplies of water.
This led to the stronger animals eating the weaker ones, the Irish Mirror reports.
One pig was found to have an untreated abscess the size of a small football on its leg.
The breaches of European Animal Welfare regulations occurred between May 3 and September 8, 2011 when Mr O'Brien failed to take the necessary steps to ensure the welfare of pigs in his possession at his farm in Mitchelstown.
The court heard he caused unnecessary suffering to a pig by failing to treat or euthanise it after its flesh was extensively eaten on its ribcase.
Mr O'Brien also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a welfare notice causing unnecessary suffering to a pig by failing to treat or euthanise it after it had its flesh eaten, was bleeding due to its flesh being eaten; swollen joints or chronic abcesses.
Department of Agriculture inspector Mary Cullinane told the court that she was startled during one inspection to find the pigs dying of thirst whilst farm workers watered hedges nearby.
She also told Judge O'Donnabhain that she had to call the gardai on one occasion when she called to the farm as Mr O'Brien put her in such fear.
Department of Agriculture Inspector John McConville said it was not a financial issue that caused Mr O'Brien to mistreat the pigs but poor management practices.
"This was not a financial issue, it was a case of improper management. The pigs were suffering and treated cruelly."
Judge O'Donnabhain said it was a very distressing case.
"He [the farmer] openly defied them [the Department of Agriculture]. What brazenness in the context of the evidence."
He acknowledged that Mr O'Brien was in a "calamitious financial situation" owing millions to the banks. However, he said this did not excuse the horrendous cruelty to animals at the farm.
"The provision of water, winter or summer, was fundamental to the welfare of the animals and this was not attended to."
Judge O'Donnabhain said he had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence in the case before jailing the father of five for 18 months.
0 comments: