A farmer from Co. Down has been convicted in court docket for inflicting pointless struggling to 16 sheep and 11 lambs.

Alan Montgomery, from Killough, Downpatrick, was additionally convicted for failing to take affordable steps, within the circumstances, to make sure the wants of animals had been met and for failing to adjust to an obligation imposed below animal welfare rules yesterday (Monday, November 7).

The 69-year-old farmer pleaded responsible to all costs at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Courtroom and acquired a conditional discharge for 2 years on every and all accounts.

Pointless struggling

The case arose from welfare inspections carried out by employees from Newtownards Division of Agriculture, Setting and Rural Affairs (DAERA) direct workplace.

Throughout the inspections, employees discovered quite a few sheep in soiled dwelling circumstances with out feed and water.

Lots of the sheep had foot rot and had been in poor situation. Within the opinion of the veterinary officer current, quite a few animals had been struggling unnecessarily.

Quite a few animals in poor situation had been euthanised to stop additional struggling.

Montgomery was convicted of the 4 costs of inflicting pointless struggling by motive of an act or failure to behave by himself, which induced the pointless struggling of 16 sheep and 11 lambs.

The division concluded that he knew, or ought moderately to have identified, that the mentioned act or failure to behave would have that impact or was probably to take action, opposite to Part 4(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Eire) 2011.