A farmer charged with animal neglect left court without conviction this week after it was heard a “hero” neighbour had helped out with tending his animals for almost two years.
Before a special sitting of the district court earlier this week (December 15 ) was Moate farmer PJ Downes (42 ) with an address at Baskin, Drumraney, Athlone, who had been initially charged with 19 counts of neglect and cruelty between October 17, 2006 and January 25, 2007 at his farm and some leased properties.
In court on Monday was the Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector, Mr Jonathan Cooney, who had been on the case from the start and he gave evidence as to what he found. “It wasn’t a lack of fodder, it was just not given,” he said. “There was no significant welfare problem.”
It transpired a neighbour of Downes, Mr Richard Browne, had been helping in the distribution of fodder on his neighbour’s farm since January 2007 and Mr Cooney expressed his satisfaction that this had been sufficient.
“There are not too many Mr Brownes in this world,” said Judge Conal Gibbons. “You meet heroes only occasionally and I’d put Mr Brown in that category.” Judge Gibbons then turned back to the defendant and told Downes he expected him to keep better stock records. “It’s an onerous responsibility to maintain the integrity of the national herd.”
It was revealed on a previous court date that Downes had suffered a personal bereavement shortly before these incidents began to occur and his solicitor then, Ms Lorna Groarke, said he had been suffering from depression.
“He has been farming all his life. Prior to this there has never been any indication of bad farming management,” she said.
“There is no logical reason why the events took place had the person not a medical condition,” said Mr Cooney at that appearance, whilst Mr Browne said Mr Downes was “one of the best farmers in Westmeath” and he “didn’t believe it” when he heard about the charges.
He explained to the Court then that Mr Downes’ mother had passed away suddenly and he had known him and the family all his life.
The judge ordered Downes make a €2,500 contribution to the Westmeath Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a charity of Mr Cooney’s choice.
He then applied the Probation Act, the mildest sanction available in the court wihout the stain of conviction.
Over 20 animal carcasses were found on farms at Baskin, Raheen, and Moyvoughley during four Department of Agriculture inspections between October 2006 and January 2007.
Since Mr Browne’s involvement, no more animals were lost. The herd has also decreased from approximately 180 cattle to 72, and Mr Downes has disposed of leased lands in his possession.
