A ‘small-time’ farmer from Co. Cork has been convicted at a Macroom District Court of offences relating to animal welfare.
In court last week (February 21), Michael Bradley (78) of St. John’s Drive Ballinacree, Co. Cork admitted to 10 offences under sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
The court heard evidence from senior inspector with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), Emma Carroll.
She described visiting a yard beside a derelict cottage at Lyroe, Lahern, Ballinagree, Co. Cork on July 1, 2022, along with her colleague, inspector Caroline Faherty.
Court evidence relating to animal welfare
The senior inspector recounted observing several animals for which she had concerns.
These included a male collie dog attached to a stone wall by a heavy chain, which was almost hairless and had inflamed and scaly skin.
The dog was described as “lifeless”, it was surrounded by its own faeces and had no access to food or water.
A thin and extremely nervous female collie was also found cowering in a pile of rubbish. She was confined by a tangled chain and was unable to move or find shelter.
It was raining heavily, the dog’s coat was saturated, and she was shivering excessively, the court heard.
The inspectors discovered another female collie along with her five young nursing puppies in an open shed.
The mother was tethered to a wall with a chain so short that she had limited ability to move and was seen frantically pulling against the chain.
The bedding in the shed was wet and soiled straw. All the puppies had wet coats due to being exposed to the rain.
Seven ducks were found confined in a cattle trailer. They had no access to daylight, food or water and were living in their own filth.
Michael Bradley told the inspectors that these ducks had been wild, but he had clipped their wings and they had been housed in the trailer for over a year.
Action
The farmer agreed to surrender two collies and the seven ducks, but a further two collies and the five pups were seized by the inspectors.
Instructions were issued regarding the care of other animals in the yard, and a subsequent visit confirmed that Bradley had complied at that time.
The court heard that Michael Bradley was a ‘small-time’ farmer and trialled sheep dogs.
He was normally assisted by his daughter, but she had a baby before events of July 2022 and standards had slipped.
Judge James McNulty convicted the farmer but felt that, given his age, he was not a good candidate for prison.
But the Judge said that “he must pay a price for neglecting the animals in his care”.
He fined Bradley €1,000 and imposed an order disqualifying him for life from keeping any animals with the exception of 20 or less sheep, one working sheepdog and one donkey.
Judge McNulty also ordered forfeiture of the seized dogs to the ISPCA.
The ISPCA senior inspector said: “This conviction should serve as a reminder that ownership and power over an animal is a privilege and it comes with the responsibility to protect, cherish and never betray their trust.
“The loyalty of working dogs such as sheepdogs is unwavering; it’s the owner’s duty to ensure their welfare matches their devotion.”