A 59-year-old farmer from Fivemiletown has been banned from keeping animals for life after Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered cattle carcasses, knee-high slurry, and animals suffering unnecessarily across two sites.

Martin Beattie of Shantonagh Road received the ban at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Monday. He admitted 21 offences, including six counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals. The court imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a £2,100 fine.

Inspections by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) between January 2022 and January 2024 repeatedly found housing in poor repair, dirty bedding, feed troughs contaminated with urine and dung, and inadequate access to food and water. Approximately 33 animal carcasses and a number of bones were discovered, and 29 live animals had to be euthanised to prevent further suffering.

The prosecution described the offending as high-level passive abuse, noting that Beattie had not acted violently but had persistently ignored veterinary advice and official interventions. A defence solicitor told the court Beattie became overwhelmed after his father died from Covid-19, and that he himself suffered complications from the virus while struggling to manage a growing closed herd.

District Judge Francis Rafferty called the conditions disgraceful and criticised Beattie for failing to act on advice despite multiple opportunities to improve. DAERA had referred Beattie to Rural Support for counselling in 2024.

A DAERA spokesperson said the land was severely poached, housing was poorly maintained, and limited available feed was contaminated. The department will assist in removing the remaining 66 cattle from the farm.