A farmer from Co. Laois has been fined €2,500 and ordered to pay costs of €3,233.16 at Portlaoise District Court in relation to animal welfare offences.
John Dempsey, Strahard, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, appeared before Judge Nicola Andrews at Portlaoise District Court on Monday, April 8.
The case arose following an inspection by the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) at Dempsey’s property.
Dempsey pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court in relation to animal welfare related offences, failing to comply with an animal health and welfare notice and failing to dispose of a bovine carcass.
The court heard evidence from ISPCA Inspector, James McCormack who described attending Dempsey’s property on July 28, 2022 where he found a number of dogs living in “unsuitable conditions” in sheds and a trailer.
According to the ISPCA Inspector two female dogs were found who were “extremely underweight despite being pregnant”.
“They also had fleas and were scratching. One dog had open sores on its back,” the ISPCA also detailed.
ISPCA
When Inspector McCormack attempted to seize dogs at the property he alleged that Dempsey had shouted at him and “banged” on his window.
Support was requested from an Garda Síochána and the inspector also found an “underweight dog” in a shed with no water or light.
“A decomposing cow was also found behind sheds,” the ISPCA detailed.
A total of three adult King Charles Spaniels, along with a female terrier and her four pups were removed on July 28, 2022.
Inspector McCormack told the court that he tried “unsuccessfully” on numerous occasions to contact the farmer before serving an Animal Health and Welfare notice on September 5, 2022 requiring Dempsey to maintain any dogs on his premises in appropriate conditions
The ISPCA inspector returned to the property on January 4, 2023 and found a German Shepherd being kept in contravention of the Animal Health and Welfare notice imposed.The dog was seized.
Inspector McCormack also conducted another inspection last Friday, April 5, and found “a dead sheep in a trailer with two lambs attempting to suckle from it”.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) were contacted in relation to the livestock issues and attended the property.
Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a disqualification order prohibiting Dempsey from keeping dogs or cats for a period of five years.
He also received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.
The judge also fined Dempsey €2,500 and ordered that he pay costs of €3,233.16.
Commenting on the case Inspector McCormack said: “This was a case of severe neglect of several animals over a prolonged period.
“Efforts to engage with the defendant on numerous occasions went unanswered making the situation more difficult.
“Communication is always key and there was none in this instance. Thankfully, all animals rescued are now in loving caring homes, living the lives that they deserve. Suffering cannot be tolerated, and offenders will be brought before the courts”.