Caused unnecessary suffering to horses

Craigavon man Simon O’Donaghue (33) appeared at a local magistrates’ court last Friday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching Section 13 of the Welfare of Animals Act 1972.

The offences relate to December 29 last year. The court heard that police seized a brown mare and a foal which were being kept at Lake Road, Craigavon, after concerns were raised regarding the animals’ welfare.

Officers then made inquiries in the surrounding area as to who owned the horses and subsequently O’Donaghue – who resides at Moylinn House, Legahory Centre – voluntarily went to the PSNI and admitted that he owned the mare and foal.

O’Donaghue’s solicitor said that her client “accepted that he didn’t look after the animals as well as he should have” but stressed that he had owned the horses for two years, during which they hadn’t lived in “adverse conditions”.

She added that the defendant had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, having “totally co-operated with police” and had “no aspirations” to own more horses in the future.

In response, District Judge Alan White ordered O’Donaghue to do 120 hours of community service and pay veterinary bills amounting to 250.46. He was also disqualified from owning horses or ponies for five years.