Farmer convicted of five charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) among others

According to the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Mr Reid was convicted of: One charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal; Four charges of failure to ensure the needs of an animal were met; One charge of failure to dispose of animal carcasses; and One charge of failure to produce medicine records.

Mr Reid had previously pleaded guilty and was fined £1,250.

He was also disqualified for a period of 10 years from keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of animals, being party to an arrangement under which animals are kept, and from transporting or arranging the transport of all animals.

A deprivation order was granted.

In addition, he received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in respect of the five welfare charges.

He also received a two-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in relation to animal carcase charge, and a further two-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in relation to the medicine records charge.

All suspended sentences are to run concurrently. An offender levy of £15 was also applied.

The case arose, following a complaint from a member of the public stating that animals were being kept in poor conditions.

DAERA staff carried out multiple welfare inspections between 23/10/2023 and 21/05/2024.

During these inspections cattle were found to be housed in unsuitable conditions with no dry lying area.

Several lame and severely lame cattle were found.

Fifteen animals had been observed to be lame or severely lame on multiple visits, some had been receiving treatment but in the opinion of the veterinary officer they were showing no signs of improvement and were euthanised to prevent further unnecessary suffering.

Dead cattle in various states of decomposition were also found.

Mr Reid was asked to present his veterinary medicine records on several occasions, but he failed to do so.