CRAUGHWELL FARMER HAS ANIMAL CRUELTY FINES REDUCED

Date Published: 05-Oct-2011

A Craughwell farmer has been given a suspended 18-month sentence and fined 5 thousand euro and for cruelty and neglect of animals.

42 year old P. J. Shiel, from Loughile, Craughwell, was successful yesterday in his appeal to the Circuit Court.

The appeal was against the severity of fines totalling 35 thousand euro along with two, three-month prison sentences which were imposed on him at Athenry District Court earlier this year.

P.J Shiel had pleaded guilty to 35 offences relating to animal cruelty at his farm in Craughwell and at rented lands near Clarenbridge in March and April of 2010.

Defence barrister, Conal McCarthy said his client was now working with his local vet, and with the Department officials to set things right.

Hearing Shiel was now working to improve animal welfare on his farm, Judge Tony Hunt said no purpose would be served by jailing him.

He slashed the fines from €35,000 to €5,000 but increased the prison sentence from six months to eighteen months.

He then suspended the sentence on condition Shiel has his animals inspected on a monthly basis for the next two years.