Breeder pleads guilty to animal cruelty

A horse breeder from south Kilkenny has pleaded guilty to four counts of cruelty to animals.

The man also pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to dispose of carcasses on lands farmed by him.

The animal carcasses were found behind a stack of hay bales on the farm owned by 64-year-old Simon O'Dwyer.

O'Dwyer appeared before Kilkenny District Court and pleaded guilty to the charges relating to dates between January and December of last year.

Garda Shane Elliffe told the court that he found a black horse lying dead in the farmyard at Mr O'Dwyer's home at Garrue, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, on 30 January 2009.

He also found the carcasses of five horses and two cattle piled with the use of a front loader behind a number of round bales in a shed on the farm.

Garda Elliffe said he witnessed dogs owned by O'Dwyer eating from the carcasses.

Gardaí visited the farm in February 2007 with vet and president of Veterinary Ireland Joe Collins. O'Dwyer was told to remedy the poor conditions of animals on the farm.

O'Dwyer has been in custody since his arrest last month after the remains of two more horses were found on lands at Mullinavat and Piltown.

Garda Elliffe told the court that more than 100 animals were suffering daily from lack of food, shelter and water.

61 horses and 46 cattle were seized by officers from the Department of Agriculture from lands farmed by Mr O'Dwyer in December.

Mr Collins gave evidence that O'Dwyer was 'breeding stallions' and other horses on his home farm.

He told Judge William Harnett the operation had got out of control two years ago and that O'Dwyer showed no understanding that basic things like water were required for the keeping of animals.

Solicitor Michael Lanigan said his client was a widower who suffered from depression and that he was unable to manage the operation.

Judge Harnett ordered that a psychiatric report be carried out on O'Dwyer and remanded the accused in custody to appear back before the court on 1 February.