DISQUALIFIED FROM KEEPING ANIMALS

A civil servant has been disqualified from keeping animals for five years, following a prosecution brought by the Department of Agriculture.

Donna Safr, 129 Oaklawns, Dundalk, faced 19 summonses under the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013, covering three specific dates at land she owns at Balregan, Kilcurry.

She wasn’t present to hear the evidence of a veterinary inspector who found sheep and pigs in poor condition on the one-acre holding, or how he had to euthanise ‘on the spot’ a sheep being eaten alive by maggots.

It was outlined to the court that the charges related to such matters as causing unnecessary suffering to animals, failing to provide them with water and food, straying animals, and failing to comply with an animal health and welfare notice.

Christopher O’Brien Lynch, now retired as a veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture, said following earlier visits, he entered the property on 17 July, 2014.

He inspected five adult pigs and three piglets in two pens. One adult pig was roaming, and had access to a busy public road and other premises.

There were also five adult sheep and two lambs; and Mr O’Brien Lynch said he was extremely concerned over the welfare of the animals.

One adult sheep, in particular, was suffering from blow fly strike, where blue or green bottles lay eggs on the rumps of animals. It required immediate attention.

The sheep were dull and staying out of the sun, and suffering from having heavy fleeces.

They needed shearing immediately.

He said he spoke to Donna Safr on the phone, and she said she was satisfied there was nothing wrong with her animals.

They were a special type of sheep, her pets, and would shed their ‘ hair’ naturally.

The witness continued there was sparse grazing and no food laid out. There was dirty water in a pond contaminated by a dead carcass.

He estimated the pigs had no food or water for a number of days, and when he and colleagues gave them water, they drank voraciously for four minutes.

There were rusty nails protruding from objects in the pen, and he saw a recently burnt carcass of either a pig or sheep.

Mr O’Brien Lynch told the court Ms Safr made it clear she didn’t care about his visit, and was dismissive of his opinions.

He rang her again the next day, and she informed him the sheep in a particularly bad condition (referred to as 23c) had disappeared, and accused him of letting it out.

The veterinary surgeon served an animal health & welfare notice on 21 July, delivering it to the house in Oaklawns.

Donna Safr appealed the notice, and her appeal was refused. She appealed that decision to the circuit court, and it was refused.

Judge Brennan heard that on 31 July, Mr O’Brien Lynch located the sheep (23c) on another premises, after it strayed.

The animal was emaciated, and its skin almost entirely peeled off. Maggots had developed from eggs, and ‘were literally eating her alive.’

He euthanased the sheep on the spot.

‘ The suffering was avoidable, but it in the absence of treatment was inevitable.’

On 8 August, he arrived at the Balregan property with colleagues, two gardai and a haulier to remove the animals.

He seized eight sheep and nine pigs, taking them to a place of refuge, though one lamb died immediately thereafter.

The other animals were treated successfully.

The vet added Donna Safr is a full-time civil servant with the Revenue Commissioners in Dundalk. She had told him so on a number of occasions, and that is the number he contacted her at.

Judge Brennan said he was satisfied the charges were proven beyond any doubt, and convicted her on all charges.

In addition to the disqualification order which was requested by the prosecution, he fined her €90 on each of the 19 charges, and ordered she pay €1,500 costs and €500 expenses.