Banned Letterkenny farmer again in courtroom over animal fears

Considerations have been raised in courtroom over the presence of animals on land belonging to a Letterkenny farmer who has been banned from protecting animals for ten years.

The matter was raised at Letterkenny District Court docket, the place Leslie Stewart was as a result of be sentenced over a breach of a courtroom order.

Stewart, a 75-year-old from The Thorn, Letterkenny, was banned from protecting animals for ten years in September 2022 and any animals on his land have been to be seized.

He was additionally given a four-month suspended jail sentence when convicted of animal cruelty costs that have been described as ‘disturbing’ and ‘horrendous’.

A courtroom sitting earlier this 12 months heard how Stewart solely handed over a collie canine after six visits by an ISPCA inspector on the morning the matter was due in courtroom.

His solicitor, Mr Kieran O’Gorman, stated his consumer was ‘admitting that it took a while to catch the canine’.

Nevertheless, Ms Helen Johnson BL, for the prosecution, which was introduced by the Division of Agriculture, Meals and the Marine, informed the courtroom {that a} additional challenge has arisen within the case.

Ms Johnston stated that there have been cattle and sheep on the land when inspectors referred to as lately. Two horses have been additionally on the land.

When contacted by officers, an individual who has been leasing the land stated he had ‘nothing to do’ with a few of the animals famous on the inspection.

Decide Éiteáin Cunningham stated she was involved at coping with the matter in a piecemeal vogue.

“The courtroom ought to have a look at the general state of affairs cope with this globally, it makes extra sense,” Decide Cunningham stated,

“The courtroom has been very clear on the place and Mr Stewart has been given each probability to place affairs so as. It’s a most critical matter. Each effort ought to now be made to get the affairs so as.”

The matter was put again for 2 months to allow all work on disclosure to be carried out.

In September 2022, Stewart was convicted at Letterkenny District Court docket after officers discovered animals in varied states of misery on account of Stewart’s cruelty. These offences dated between Might, 2019 and April, 2021.

Carcasses of lifeless sheep have been discovered on his lands with canine close by. Stewart was additionally charged with keepings pigs in a trailer with out sufficient water, protecting canine in a van with out water and protecting poultry in a small locked trailer with out water.

Stewart beforehand acquired a suspended jail sentence and was banned from protecting animals for 2 years in 2016 for ravenous animals on his farm. Then, ISPCA officers discovered horses and donkeys ravenous with a few of the animals having to be put down.

Banned Letterkenny farmer again in courtroom over animal fears was final modified: September eighth, 2023 by Workers Author