Farmer sentenced at Ballymena Court
Ian Wilson (55), Ballydermot Lane, Bellaghy was sentenced today at Ballymena Court of ten charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and one charge under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.
Mr Wilson was convicted on:
Three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to bovines
Seven charges of failure to ensure the needs of an animal were met to the extent required by good practice
One charge of failure to dispose of a carcase
Mr Wilson was disqualified from owning animals, keeping farmed animals, participating in keeping animals, being party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are kept, from dealing in animals, from transporting and arranging the transport of animals for life. In addition, he received an eight month custodial sentence suspended for three years on the unnecessary suffering charges, three month custodial sentence suspended for three years on the good practice charges and two month custodial sentence suspended for three years on the carcase disposal charge. All suspended sentences are to run concurrently.
The case arose, following a complaint made to Ballymena DAERA Direct Office. DAERA staff from the local office and the Welfare and Enforcement Branch carried out multiple inspections on the premises. Some of the animals had insufficient food and water and several animal carcasses were found. 19 calves were euthanised as they were suffering unnecessarily.