Man guilty on animal cruelty charges

A BANBRIDGE man was given a suspended sentence and fined for charges relating to animal welfare.

Robert Martin, Drumaghadone Road, Skeagh, Banbridge, Co Down, was sentenced at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court (sitting in Newry) on 1 June 2012 on two charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 1972, one charge under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 2011, two charges under the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (NI) 1999, four charges under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (NI) 2000 and one charge under the Brucellosis Control Order (NI) 2004. Mr Martin had previously pleaded guilty to these charges.

This case involved causing unnecessary suffering to bovine animals, failing to dispose of carcasses, failing to notify a bovine death and movement off a holding, failing to comply with a notice to attend to animals in need of immediate attention and moving an animal prior to it having a brucellosis test .

Mr Martin was given a three month prison sentence suspended for three years on each charge to run concurrently, plus £38 costs.