Farmer sentenced at Dungannon Court 20/05/26
Date published:
Mr David Reid (57), of Tannaghlane Road, Tannaghlane, Caledon, was convicted today at Dungannon Court of five charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011, one charge under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 2015, and one charge under the Veterinary Medicine Regulations 2011.
Mr Reid was convicted of:
- One charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal;
- Four charges of failure to ensure the needs of an animal were met;
- One charge of failure to dispose of animal carcasses; and
- One charge of failure to produce medicine records.
Mr Reid had previously pleaded guilty and was fined £1,250. He was also disqualified for a period of 10 years 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 received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in respect of the five welfare charges. He also received a two-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in relation to animal carcase charge, and a further two-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, in relation to the medicine records charge. All suspended sentences are to run concurrently. An offender levy of £15 was also applied.
The case arose, following a complaint from a member of the public stating that animals were being kept in poor conditions. DAERA staff carried out multiple welfare inspections between 23/10/2023 and 21/05/2024. During these inspections cattle were found to be housed in unsuitable conditions with no dry lying area. Several lame and severely lame cattle were found. Fifteen animals had been observed to be lame or severely lame on multiple visits, some had been receiving treatment but in the opinion of the veterinary officer they were showing no signs of improvement and were euthanised to prevent further unnecessary suffering. Dead cattle in various states of decomposition were also found. Mr Reid was asked to present his veterinary medicine records on several occasions, but he failed to do so.
Notes to editors:
1. Mr Reid was convicted on one charge of by reason of an act or failure to act by him caused unnecessary suffering to 15 bovine animals and that 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.
2. Mr Reid was convicted on four charges of failure to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of an animal for which they were responsible were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to section 9(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
3. Mr Reid was convicted on one charge of failure to comply with an animal by-product requirement in that he failed to hold bodies or parts of bodies of farmed animals which 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, contrary to Regulation 19 of the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.
4. Mr Reid was convicted on one charge of in contravention of Regulation 37(d) failure to produce a medicine record when required to do so, contrary to Regulation 43 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.
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.
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 direct side effects in humans.
ii) - the slaughter of animals entering the food chain containing a drug to which human pathogens are capable of developing a resistance which may reduce the effectiveness with which human diseases can be controlled by a drug.
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 for human consumption without withdrawal times being observed.
8. Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
9. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
10. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.