A farmer charged with cruelty to animals and with allowing nine dead animals to lie rotting on his land has been remanded in custody.
Simon O’Dwyer (63), Garrue, Knockmoylan, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, appeared before Castlecomer District Court yesterday.
Mr O’Dwyer is charged with four counts of cruelty to animals and with three counts of failing to dispose of carcases on lands farmed by him between January and December 2009.
His solicitor, Michael Lanigan, told the court his client was in a position to make a plea in relation to the charges but no direction had come from the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the indictable matters against his client.
Judge William Harnett remanded Mr O’Dwyer in custody to today’s sitting of Kilkenny District Court and asked that the prosecution seek direction from the DPP before the case got under way.