A West Clare farmer has been jailed for six months for cruelty to his cattle which has been described as "appalling" and "staggering".
60-year-old Patrick Shannon had appeared before Kilrush District Court in November, where a ten-month suspended prison sentence had been imposed on him, while at that time Judge Patrick Durcan also ordered his 73 cattle be removed from him.
However, Ennis District Court was yesterday told that he had sold only 25 of these.
Department of Agriculture inspector Vincent Lambert gave evidence that the remaining animals were hungry, and had stunted growth during the course of several visits by Department of Agriculture officials.
In one such visit earlier this month, Mr. Lambert said he came across the carcass of one bovine animal and that eight other animals were hungry and located in a very bare field with no feed.
Mr. Shannon insisted his cattle were fed twice a day, that they were a small breed of cow, and that the dead animal died of flooding.
However, Judge Patrick Durcan said the accused’s actions could "cause huge ramifications not just for the animals in question but for the national economy."
He imposed a six-month jail term, and set recognisance in the event of an appeal.
