A Co Armagh farmer has been given a suspended prison sentence for various offences including causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
Jason Pollock (42) of Manse Road in Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
He admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering, three charges of failure to comply with a duty imposed under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and one charge of failure to dispose of an animal carcass.
Pollock received a five month custodial sentence suspended for three years in respect of the unnecessary suffering charge.
He was also disqualified from owning animals, keeping animals, participating in keeping animals, being party to an arrangement under which that person is entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are being kept, from dealing in animals, from transporting animals, arranging the transport of animals for eight years. In addition, he was fined £2,500.
He received a two month custodial sentence suspended for three years in respect of the animal by-product charge plus a £2,000 fine.
In respect of the three charges of failing to comply a duty imposed by the legislation he was fined £2,250.
In total he received £6,750 in fines and was ordered to pay the £15 offender levy.
The case arose from an unannounced farmed animal welfare inspection by DAERA staff.
The inspection was scheduled as a result of previous breaches of animal welfare regulations and the number of reported deaths of cattle in the herd in recent months.
Elsewhere, in an unrelated court case Rodney Robinson (55) of Cushenny Road in Portadown was convicted at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court of two charges of removing, or causing or permitting the removal of an animal’s ear tag, one charge of failure to notify the death of a bovine animal and one charge of failure to keep a herd register.
Robinson was fined £375. The case arose, as a result of Robinson removing the ear tags of two of his cattle and a subsequent investigation by the Departments Welfare and Enforcement Branch (WEB).
