A FARMER jailed earlier this year for a series of offences linked to a bitter land dispute with his ex-wife was this week sentenced to a further two months in custody after he admitted breaching animal welfare regulations.

Patrick Gerard Donnelly (61), of Cabra, Irvinestown, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to cattle and failing to dispose of animal carcases on March 30 last year.

Donnelly, who is currently serving a 15-month term in Magilligan prison and is due for release this December, appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court via videolink for sentencing on Monday.

The court heard that, on March 30, 2015, a Department of Agriculture vet visiting the defendant’s farm in the Irvinestown area after a complaint was received from a member of the public.

Around 35 cattle were being kept in a muddy field, the court heard. The animals had access to a slatted cattle shed containing provisions.

While the majority of the animals were found to be in a “satisfactory” condition, the muddiness of the field in which they were being kept was detrimental to their welfare.

On further inspection of the property, the vet found the carcass of a black Limousin cow with a calf hanging out. Both of the animals were decomposed.

Meanwhile, a red limousin cow was found in a comatose state and was “close to death”. The vet decided to euthanize this animal as it was “clearly suffering”.

Another two carcases of dead calves were also uncovered on the property, the court heard.

When the defendant was interviewed in relation to the cattle, he claimed that he had been having “trouble” with his back and had left his brother to look after the animals.

However, he accepted that the cattle were his responsibility.

He also presented the Department with medicine records for the herd, which were found to be “incomplete”.

After the judge asked why the department were not seeking to have Donnelly banned from keeping animals, a representative told the court that a follow-up inspection of the premises had been carried out and they were “happy with the way things had improved”.

He added that everything was found to be in order and that the defendant had appointed an agent to look after the herd when he had been jailed in May of this year.

Defending solicitor, Tommy Owens, told the court that his client had been farming since he was 15 years old and had a clear record relating to animal welfare offences.

The solicitor said that Donnelly accepted he had been at fault.

“He had a back problem and delegated responsibility for farming to his brother who really wasn’t up to it,” Mr Owens said.

In mitigation, the solicitor said that the offences had occurred when the field had been in a poor condition due to “very bad weather”. He added that the animals were all fed and the cattle were overall in a very satisfactory condition, according to the vet’s report.

Mr Owens told the court that the assistance the defendant had received from family and friends in looking after his land while he was in prison reflected his standing within the local farming community.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that five dead animals had been found on his land and the defendant had “clearly fallen foul” of animal welfare regulations.

The judge said the offences could only be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence.

Mr Broderick imposed concurrent two-month jail terms in respect of each charge, and directed that they be served consecutively to his existing sentence.

The defendant was subsequently granted his own bail of £500 to appeal the sentence imposed this week.