The custodial sentence of a former animal sanctuary operator, Ms Pat Edwards (70), has been suspended on the condition that the sanctuary ceases to operate, according to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA).

At Clonmel Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 18, Edwards of Deise Animal Sanctuary, Knocknaree, Co. Waterford appealed the severity of the sentence imposed by Judge Brian O’Shea, in the District Court, in November last year.

At that time, Edwards admitted to causing suffering to, or endangering the health and welfare of a variety of animals and also admitted offences connected to the microchipping of dogs.

Judge O’Shea sentenced the defendant to eight months imprisonment at the time, disqualified her from owning all animals for 20 years, and imposed a fine of €1,500.

At Tuesday’s appeal hearing the court heard evidence from superintending veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Ann Quinn, who described conducting a number of inspections of Deise Animal Sanctuary between February and June 2023.

She said that the conditions on-site were “very unsatisfactory” and described barren environments, soiled bedding and animals "deprived" of necessary veterinary attention.

In addition to animal welfare concerns, Quinn highlighted a lack of record keeping and said that the accused was unable to say how many animals were on site.

Quinn said she served a notice on the defendant requiring that no more animals be taken in, that existing animals be provided with appropriate vet treatment, housing, and care, and that records be made available to officials.

However, further visits found that conditions had not improved, and the health and welfare of some animals deteriorated over time. Animals were removed on a number of occasions with the assistance of the ISPCA.

Quinn said that she was concerned about the owner's “unwillingness to comply with instructions”. She also said that records obtained from the defendant’s own vet “demonstrated pervasive failure to follow veterinary advice”.

ISPCA senior inspector Alice Lacey also gave evidence of being present for six inspections of the premises during the course of which a total of 50 animals were removed.

She told the court how these animals included a harris hawk with a brass ring embedded in the skin of its leg; a number of buzzards with long-standing injuries, one of which was self-mutilating; and a pigeon with an open fracture to its wing and its bone exposed.

There were also cats with heavily matted and contaminated coats; owls in barren environments; and pigs with chronic skin conditions that didn’t receive veterinary care.

Lacey also spoke of a fox named Shadow who had been confined in a small barren pen for six years, since he was a cub. When no improvements had been made to his accommodation, he was seized on June 30, 2023.

Inspector Lacey said that when the fox was being seized, the owner said: "Why would you want him? he’s only vermin”. Inspector Lacey said: “it was disheartening to hear a sanctuary owner speak in such a way”.

Acting for Edwards, Martin Dully BL said that he was instructed to offer an “utterly unequivocal and unconditional apology”. He said that the conditions observed by the ISPCA were “appalling” and “had to be acted upon”.

His client had pleaded guilty and recognised that there must be consequences, but he suggested that a custodial sentence was “neither appropriate nor justified”. He also said that his instructions were that Edwards' estranged husband was responsible for the care of some of the animals.

Dully said that, since the age of 16, Edwards’ entire life had been dedicated to the care and welfare of animals and had been operating her sanctuary for years with a policy to take in any abandoned animal and not to euthanise any animal.

He cited the Covid-19 lockdown as a “catalyst” for the deterioration in conditions and suggested that huge numbers of animals were “dumped at the front door of the sanctuary". He said that his client “couldn’t say no” and was “simply overwhelmed”.

Judge Staines ruled that the original sentence imposed was appropriate but, taking into account the defendant’s health and no previous convictions, she suspended the custodial sentence for one year.