A 54-year-old man who admitted to animal cruelty offences in relation to 90 horses in Co Meath has been jailed for two years.
Geoffrey Lyons, with an address at The Cottage, Macetown, Tara, Co Meath, was also disqualified from keeping horses for ten years.
He was sentenced at Trim Circuit Court, after pleading guilty to five sample charges of causing unnecessary suffering to or endangering the health or welfare of an animal on 13 March 2023.
He was also sentenced for a revenue offence under the Finance Act after pleading guilty to the evasion of excise duty on tobacco.
Judge John Martin described the evidence in the animal cruelty case as "harrowing" and said there had been very serious neglect, cruelty and abandonment of the animals.
In summarising the evidence, Judge Martin said the details of neglect were shocking and "nothing but distressing for any right-minded member of society".
Large quantity of tobacco found
The court had heard garda evidence that on 13 March 2023, officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau carried out an early morning search at Lyons's home address, assisted by officers from Revenue and Customs.
During the search a large quantity of tobacco was found to the value of more than €700,000.
The court heard the total risk to the State in terms of revenue loss was valued at more than €500,000.
Lyons's personal car was also searched, and smaller quantities of tobacco were discovered, along with a price list.
During further searches by the Garda Mounted Unit at two other locations, a number of horses were discovered.
On the first site, five ponies were found in a field at Cloghen Stud at Garristown in Co Meath.
The court heard they were emaciated, with their spines, hip-bones and ribs showing and their feet were in a state of neglect.
The horses had nothing to eat or drink, that a puddle was their only source of water and they had to lap up surface water from the ground.
They had no shelter or grass to lie down on.
One of the ponies had to be euthanised, the four remaining were transferred to the My Lovely Horse charity.
At the second property at Danestown Stud, 45 horses were found in a yard, and a further 40 horses were discovered in a barn.
A number of horses were seized, while a number had to be euthanised.
The 45 horses found in the yard of the second property had no shelter and were standing in four inches of slurry with only a small amount of hay.
A further 40 young horses were discovered in a barn, with no access to outdoor space, or bedding, and had to lie down in slurry.
Garda Nives Caplice from the Garda Mounted Unit gave evidence of a distressing noise from a foaling mare who was had fallen to the ground and was unable to get up.
The court heard the foal was stillborn, and upon the arrival of the vet, it was decided the mare should be euthanised on humane grounds.
Defence Counsel for Lyons told the court that he had a successful career in construction after leaving school at the age of 14.
Medical and psychological reports were also handed into the court, along with a letter of apology from Lyons.
Martin Joseph Dully BL told the court that Lyons was a "high functioning alcoholic" and that he is now facing permanent and serious damage to his health as a result of alcohol.
The court heard he was someone who had an enormous interest in horses from a young age, but that during the Covid period he "took on far too many horses".
His defence counsel said that people who could no longer keep their horses would arrive at his property and he "took on the horses".
He said during this time, as Lyons health deteriorated, he "lost control of the situation" and that this was a matter of "deep shame" for him.
The court heard that Lyons had been in "extremely poor health" and had been in hospital in the weeks leading up to the discovery.
Regarding the cigarettes offence, Lyons's defence counsel said "very little can be said, he was caught, they were there, it is what it is".
Mr Dully asked the court to take account of Lyons's personal circumstances and the fact he had pleaded guilty at an early stage.
Horses neglected for 'some period of time'
During sentencing, Judge Martin said Lyons was a man who was an upright member of society, who had come from humble beginnings but had worked hard and bettered himself.
He said that Lyons had complied with a compliance notice that was issued after the search and that it was "regrettable" that Lyons had waited to do so until he was forced to take action for the welfare of the 90 animals.
He said that he had heard garda evidence that the horses had been neglected for "some period of time" and said "they hadn't suddenly got into this state" while Lyons had been in hospital.
The judge took account of the guilty pleas in relation to both matters.
Judge Martin said he accepted the apology put forward by Lyons and that he was "greatly embarrassed".
He accepted that "deep down" Lyons was an animal lover, but said he was not convinced that Covid could be blamed for this situation.
He also gave credit to the defendant for bringing €44,000 to court for the charity to cover the cost of maintaining the horses they took in.
Judge Martin dealt with both offences together, imposing a sentence of three and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months to be suspended.
He also imposed a disqualification order, disqualifying Geoffrey Lyons from holding any horses, maintaining, keeping or having anything to do with them, for ten years from the date of sentencing.
