O'Neill Welcomes Animal Cruelty Sentencing

Northern Ireland's Agriculture Minister has welcomed the sentencing of a man and his son after they were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

55-year-old Robert McAleenan and his 28-year-old son Conor ran a farm at Lisnevenagh Road near Antrim. The two pleaded guilty to 32 charges involving causing unnecessary suffering to the animals between 1 and 25 November 2011.

Conor McAleenan was jailed for 14 months and his father Robert for nine months. Each will serve half his sentence on licence.

The charges follow an inspection in November 2011 during which veterinary officers and police found 63 animals being kept in unsanitary conditions.

Nine were already dead or needed to be put down and the others were suffering from disease, injury and lice infestation.

Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill said: "In 2011 DARD Veterinary Officers discovered what can only be described as a case of appalling animal neglect, suffering and extreme malnourishment on the McAleenan’s premises and subsequently informed the PSNI, who took the lead in investigating and prosecuting this case. In addition to the custodial sentences handed down and an offender levy, they have also been banned from keeping any animal for 25 years. This will ensure that other animals do not suffer the same fate.

"The successful prosecution of Robert and Conor McAleenan should serve as a warning to those who cause unnecessary suffering and neglect to animals that DARD will continue to work with the PSNI and local councils in partnership to bring to justice those who inflict suffering on animals."

(IT/CD)