A Middletown farmer fined for transporting a seriously injured animal to an abattoir.
William Robert Gordon McNiece (57), Crossdall Road, was convicted at Armagh Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Monday) of one charge of transporting an animal that was not fit for the journey.
McNiece pleaded guilty and was fined £200 plus £15 offender levy.
The case arose when a DAERA Official Veterinary (OV) Surgeon at an abattoir examined an animal presented by McNiece.
The OV noted the animal had sustained a serious injury.
The animal was euthanised as quickly as possible.
In the professional opinion of the OV, the injury was of a severe and painful nature from which it would not recover and it should have been euthanised on farm to prevent further suffering.
Furthermore, it would have been obvious that this animal was not fit for transport, and by transportation to slaughter, McNiece caused further unnecessary suffering.
