Date published: 7 July 2025
Tiernan McMullen (23) of Granary Drive, Keady, Armagh was convicted today at Newry Court of five charges under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and one charge under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations 2015.
Mr McMullen was convicted on:
- three charges of failure to ensure the needs of an animal were met.
- two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
- one charge of failure to dispose of an animal carcase.
Mr McMullen was convicted in his absence and fined £1,200 plus £15 offender levy.
The case arose following a welfare inspection carried out by DAERA Welfare and Enforcement Officers on the 23 February 2024.
On inspection, a large number of animals were found to be in poor condition with no access to feed. Some animals had no access to dry lying and one bovine carcass was found among living animals.
In addition four sick animals, one of which was euthanised by a DAERA veterinary officer as in their opinion it was suffering unnecessarily, had not been isolated for appropriate treatment.
The only feed identified on the premises was a pile of grass silage in an open yard which the animals were lying and defecating on. This silage was contaminated and was unsuitable both in quality and quantity to be a feed supply for the almost 100 animals present in the yard at that time. The animals in this yard had access to unsuitable shelter that was deep with slurry and had defective roofing near the entrance which had the potential to injure the animals.
Notes to editors:
- Mr McMullen was convicted of three charges of failure to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure to the needs of an animal for which he was responsible for were met to the extent required by good practice, contrary to Section 9(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
- Mr McMullen was convicted of two 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.
- Mr McMullen was convicted of one charge 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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