Man given a suspended sentence for cruelty to horses in Bree
A man has been handed a suspended prison sentence in what was deemed by Judge Gerard Haughton to be an ‘appalling’ case of animal cruelty. Luke Connors (49) of 19B Esmonde Road, Enniscorthy, faced two charges under the animal health and welfare act dating from April 30, 2015.
Two emaciated horses were seized from Ballybrennan, Bree, by WSPCA officers who were shocked and appalled by their condition. One of the horses was so malnourished and sick that it could not be saved and had to be put down. The other, with specialised care, was brought back to health and eventually re-homed. Two other horses were also seized in from the field, which contained rubbish along with the rotting remnants of a dead foal.
Judge Haughton had previously ordered that the man sell or surrender any animals that he currently owns and Sgt Victor Isdell confirmed that this had been done.
Solicitor Peter Crean said that his client had the desire to keep animals at some point again.
‘Horses have always been a big part of his life,’ he said. ‘He keeps asking me when he can have horses again. I was wondering if perhaps there was some kind of animal care course that he could do in order that the court may see fit to allow him keep horses in the future?’
Sgt Isdell said that the gardaí and WSPCA were seeking an order for the defendant to be banned for keeping animals. Judge Haughton said: ‘ This situation was fairly appalling. The condition of these horses was dreadful. I have to show the seriousness of this offence and for that reason I’m going to impose a one month prison sentence, suspended for two years. I’m also going to disqualify him from having control of equine animals for three years.’
Inspector with the WSPCA Cabrini Desmond said that they were appalled by the condition the animals were left in, one ultimately having to be destroyed.
‘ This case was particularly bad,’ she said. ‘Both horses were emaciated, but one was the worst I have seen in a very long time. Her body was 0.5. She was a walking skeleton. She was dying from starvation - a slow and painful death.’
‘People need to know that if you own an animal, it’s your responsibility and no one else’s,’ she continued. ‘If people neglect their animals, they will be held accountable and they could find themselves before the court and have the animals seized. There are no excuses.’