Community service for Dungannon farmer who transported cow unfit for journey

A TYRONE farmer has received 200 hours of community service for transporting a cow that was unfit for a journey.

William Ronald Armstrong (63), of Gorey Road, Cabragh, Dungannon, was sentenced at Ballymena Magistrates Court of one charge of transporting an animal that was not fit for the journey and one charge of transporting animals without an authorisation from the competent authority.

Armstrong had previously pleaded guilty and received a 200-hour community service order.

The case arose when a DAERA official veterinarian at an abattoir examined a cow presented by the defendant. The animal was extremely emaciated and showed signs of weakness.

In the opinion of the veterinarian, the animal was unfit to be transported and was subjected to unnecessary and avoidable risk of injury during its transport to the abattoir.