By Gordon Deegan

A solicitor has told a court that there was "significant neglect of animals" on the farm of Co. Clare farmer, Pat Cahir.

At Ennis District Court, state solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey said that after talks with solicitor, Daragh Hassett for Pat Cahir, the farmer of Buncraggy, Ennis is pleading guilty to three of the seven summons before the court “on a full facts basis”.

Aisling Casey said: “There was significant neglect of animals on the farm and the Department of Agriculture is trying to work with Mr. Cahir to improve the situation and for the animals as well.”

In the case, the state solicitor said that Cahir is pleading guilty to neglect or was reckless regarding the health and welfare of animals, namely sheep and cattle between November 17, 2023 and May 23, 2024 under Section 1(b) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act.

She added that Cahir is also pleading guilty to regulations concerning the disposal of carcasses where he had carcasses of animals, namely cattle and sheep, on land which a dog may have had access to.

The state solicitor also added that Cahir is also pleading guilty to breaches under Section 42(4) and 42(9) of the Animal and Welfare Act where he is required to address the issuance of animal health and welfare notices by authorised officers.

Aisling Casey told the court that there was a compliance notice issued to Cahir on January 4, 2024 and it set out a number of compliances in order for his farm to become unrestricted. 

She said that he has not undertaken those compliances at this stage.

The farmer's solicitor, Daragh Hassett said that Cahir has no previous convictions and allowed things to get on top of him.

The state solicitor said that water remains an issue on Pat Cahir’s farm, but the farmer's solicitor said that his client has made significant improvements in relation to water troughs on his land and that his model of farming is going to change.

He said there will be no more wintering cattle at the farm and it will be a summer enterprise. 

The farmer's solicitor said that he would have more to say on the issue of mitigation on the next day in court but said that Cahir has engaged with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) to assist him.

Aisling Casey said that the case could be adjourned to July 11 to Ennis District Court where the court will hear the facts and mitigation in the case.