Farmer pleads guilty to animal cruelty after cattle and sheep found housed with carcasses

Seán McCárthaigh

A farmer has pleaded guilty to three charges of animal cruelty in relation to sheep and cattle under his care who were housed in sheds with multiple dead carcasses at a holding in west Wicklow two years ago.

Michael Mooney (42), of Logstown, Valleymount, Co Wicklow, was charged with three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to farm animals on lands at Crossage, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow, on March 20th, 2023, contrary to Section 12 (1) (a) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013.

A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard a flock of around 18 sheep including ewes and lambs were penned into a shed with no water and which contained the carcass of a ram.

The animals were also showing signs of respiratory distress and sheep scab.

A second charge related to cattle which were found in another shed with multiple carcasses in various stages of decomposition.

The court heard the bodies of two animals were partially submerged in around one foot of slurry.

A third charge related to cattle kept in a separate shed where multiple animal carcasses were also found.

Although these cattle did have access to forage and water, the court heard that they were “suffering and not thriving.”

Judge Terence O’Sullivan remanded the accused on bail to a sitting of the same court in October when Mooney will be sentenced.