OUTLINE GARDA evidence was given yesterday in a court case in which a father and son are charged with cruelty to a number of animals and with allowing dead farm animals to lie rotting on their land.
Simon O’Dwyer snr and Simon O’Dwyer jnr of Knockmoylan, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, appeared before Kilkenny District Court yesterday.
Garda Shane Elliffe, of Kilkenny Garda station, told the court he located seven dead animals, five horses and two cows, on lands owned by the defendants during an inspection in January 2009.
Garda Elliffe said he found evidence of concealment of carcasses on the farm.
He said he found animals in a “poor condition” on lands owned by the two men.
The court heard that a horse was found in an “emaciated state” and had to be put down three days later.
Both men are charged with two counts of cruelty to animals and with one count of failing to dispose of carcasses on their lands on dates between January and March 2009.
Evidence was also given to the court of a subsequent inspection of the farm on March 3rd when a horse, discovered to be “lame in two feet”, had to be seized by gardaí.
Garda Elliffe said that “animals are continuing to suffer at the farm”.
Judge William Hamill accepted jurisdiction of the case and told the investigating garda there were powers available to him to seize the animals if it was deemed necessary.
Judge Hamill adjourned the case for hearing until December 15th.