Local farmer jailed for 'horrific, neglectful' treatment of horses

A Ballyforan farmer has been jailed for what a judge has deemed “truly sickening” and “nauseating” treatment of nine horses who died as a result of poor conditions on his two farms in December, 2023.

Oliver McDonnell (59) of Ballyforan, Ballinasloe, Co Roscommon, appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Roscommon Circuit Court, where he received a six-month prison sentence for 19 violations of the Animal Health and Welfare Act on his farms in Coolatubber Ballyforan, and Ballina, Dysart.

Judge Connolly also banned him from owning horses for the rest of his life and ordered him to pay a sum of €1,000 to equine rescue charity, Hungry Horse Outside.

The court heard how Department of Agriculture representatives made several attempts to get Mr McDonnell to improve the living conditions of his animals, but he failed to do so and, as a result, the horses were found with symptoms of starvation and dehydration on December 12 and December 14, 2023.

One of the animals, a young female, was suffering from such a severe case of untreated intestinal worms, that her belly had burst.

The skeletal remains of a foal and an adult horse were also found on Mr McDonnell’s property.

Of the living animals seized by the Department, four needed to be euthanised, including a mare which had given birth to a foal, but had become feral.

Judge Connolly referred to the contents of photographs provided to the court in evidence as “the stuff of nightmares”, as he described the “horrific, neglectful treatment” of the horses who were “left to fend for themselves without food and water for lengthy periods”.

What little food and water were provided was insufficient, he said, and “to little avail” of the horses, who “died in the most dreadful pain”.

In mitigation, he noted that Mr McDonnell was a “vulnerable” man, who lives with his brother and sister, for whom he cares.

In February, he was disqualified from keeping or owning horses and has complied fully with the order, Judge Connolly noted, adding that he has also cooperated fully with the investigation.

Mr McDonnell made full admissions and pleaded guilty to all charges in October 2024

Mr McDonnell had suffered some illness, which kept him away from the farm and prevented him from properly caring for the animals, the judge accepted, but it was “no excuse for the suffering that these animals had to endure”.

Judge Connolly proceeded to impose an 18-month custodial sentence, suspending the final 12 months for one year.

He ordered the sum of €1,000 to be paid to Hungry Horse Outside, and banned him from owning horses as “he simply must not keep or be in charge of horses”.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme