A veterinary inspector has been asked by a judge to continue monitoring the farm of a 42-year-old man convicted of animal cruelty to ensure that he does not resume keeping animals after he was ordered by the court to dispose of all his livestock.
Department of Agriculture vet James Kelleher said he would continue to monitor the farm of Kenneth Coombes of The Carrig, Lurriga, Skibbereen, to ensure he abides by an order not to own, keep or manage any animals.
Mr Kelleher told Judge James McNulty at Skibbereen District Court yesterday that Coombes had removed all horses, sheep, pigs, geese and ducks from the farm in keeping with the judge's order and the only livestock still on the farm were 10 hens belonging to his elderly mother.
In July, Judge McNulty sentenced Coombes to 30 days in jail after he had pleaded guilty to a total of 22 charges including 12 of animal cruelty, six of allowing animals wander on the public roadway and four of failing to dispose properly of carcasses.
Yesterday, Judge McNulty asked Mr Kelleher to bring it to the court's attention if Coombes started keeping animals again and he suggested that Coombes might explore other avenues to earn a living from the farm including tillage or leasing it out to another farmer.