Farmer sentenced at Dungannon Court 08/06/26
Date published:
Martin Beattie (59), Shantonagh Road, Fivemiletown was sentenced today at Dungannon Court of fourteen charges under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, six charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and one charge under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011.
Mr Beattie was convicted on:
- Thirteen charges of failure to dispose of an animal carcase.
- One charge of failure to comply with an Animal By-Products notice.
- Six charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
- One charge of failure to produce medicine records.
Mr Beattie had previously pleaded guilty and was fined £2,100. He was also disqualified for life from keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of animals, being party to an arrangement under which animals are kept, and from transporting or arranging the transport of all animals. A deprivation order was granted.
In addition, he also received a one month custodial sentence suspended for two years, in respect of the thirteen animal carcase charges and a one month custodial sentence suspended for two years, in respect of the animal-by-products notice charge. He also received a five month custodial sentence suspended for two years, in respect of the six unnecessary suffering charges. He also received a one month custodial sentence suspended for two years, in respect of the one medicine records. All suspended sentences are to run concurrently. An offender levy of £15 was also applied.
The case arose following numerous welfare inspections carried out by DAERA Direct staff and Welfare and Enforcement Staff between 28/01/2022 and 30/01/2024. During these inspections conditions on the farm were very poor, the land was severely poached, housing was poorly maintained, with dirty bedding and there was insufficient access to feed and water. Limited feed that was available was contaminated with urine and dung. A large number of animals were caused unnecessary suffering, 29 animals were euthanised to prevent further unnecessary suffering.
Approximately 33 animal carcasses and a number of animal bones were also found.
Notes to editors:
1. Mr Beattie was convicted on thirteen charges of in contravention of Regulation 6 of the Animal By-Product (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, failed to hold a body or part of a body of any farmed animal that had not been slaughtered for human consumption, pending consignment or disposal, in accordance with the EU Control Regulation as read with the EU Implementing Regulation, in such a manner as to ensure that any animal or bird would not have access to it or them, in contravention of Regulation 19 of the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.
2. Mr Beattie was convicted on one charge of contravention or failure to comply with a notice served on him by an authorised person, contrary to Regulation 27(5) of the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.
3. Mr Beattie was convicted on six charges of by reason of an act or failure to act by him caused unnecessary suffering to a bovine animal and he knew or ought reasonably to have known that the said act or failure to act would have that effect or was likely to do so, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
4. Mr Beattie was convicted on one charge of failure to produce a record when required to do so to any person acting in the execution of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011, contrary to Regulation 37(d) of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011.
5. The Department gives high priority to the welfare of animals and operates a vigorous enforcement policy to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements. Any breaches are investigated thoroughly and offenders prosecuted as necessary.
6. It would be good practice (as well as being a legal requirement), to remove without delay an animal carcase from a farm to prevent spread of disease and protect public health and avoid detrimental effects on the environment.
7. The improper use of medicines in animals presents a risk to human health. This is of particular relevance when it comes to observing withdrawal times of medicines administered to animals which are subsequently slaughtered for human consumption. All keepers of animals destined for the food chain are legally obliged to maintain robust medicine records pertaining to the use of medicines in the animals under their care.
The main areas for concern are:
i) - the slaughter for human consumption of an animal before the recommended withdrawal period has been observed for drugs which may themselves have adverse effects in humans.
ii) - the slaughter of animals entering the food chain containing a drug to which human pathogens are capable of developing antimicrobial resistance which may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of these drugs to treat human diseases in the future
If proper medicine records are not kept there is a risk of animals which have been treated, but whose withdrawal periods have not been observed being slaughtered for human consumption, or sold on to another herd from which they will be slaughtered and placed on the market without adhering to the correct withdrawal period.
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