Further ban after farm not destocked
Carolyn Sybil Ireland came before the Dunedin District Court in 2022, where a catalogue of severe animal abuse was detailed.
Animal welfare inspectors found dead and emaciated livestock across her 180ha Omimi property, and Ireland was fined $15,000 and ordered to pay veterinary fees of more than $11,000.
She was banned from owning animals for five years, but the Ministry for Primary Industries gave her two months to muster her remaining cattle and transport them off the farm.
The court yesterday heard Ireland tasked a stock agent to sell them but, due to "poor fencing, wild-natured cattle, chronic poor management and various logistical problems", the deadline was not met.
In April 2023, the defendant was given a letter re-emphasising the need to clear her property of the remaining stock.
But the herd continued to grow.
Court documents said there were further failed attempts to muster the cattle and some were reportedly shot by helicopter.
Fifteen were finally "destocked" in September that year, but it was not enough.
Another letter was sent to Ireland encouraging her to contact stock agents or home-kill operators, and warned her of the consequences of non-compliance.
By April 2024 — 18 months after her court appearance — animal welfare inspectors used a drone to locate at least 60 cattle.
Ireland had not been trying to keep the stock, she said, "it's just simply that they have been difficult to get in."
There was limited success in July when 60 cattle were penned by a local farmer and removed from the site but some evaded mustering.
Finally, a couple of months later, Ireland leased her property to another farmer to run his stock on the hill block once all hers was removed.
To make it worse, the ministry said, the defendant had failed to comply with identification and tracing regulations as well as tuberculosis testing during the period.
Counsel Andrew Belcher told the court Ireland was "very, very remorseful to be here, and ashamed".
"Everything's gone now. She realises that's it for any further livestock," he said.
Judge David Robinson convicted Ireland of contravening a disqualification order under the Animal Welfare Act and banned her from animal ownership for another five years. Dairy debacle
Sept 2021: Inspectors find nine dead cattle and many severely emaciated at Ireland's property, following numerous interventions since 2013.
Oct 2022: She is fined $15,000, ordered to pay vet costs of $11,179 and banned from animal ownership for five years.
Apr 2023: Ireland's herd continues to grow despite attempts to destock, some shot by helicopter.
Sept: Fifteen cattle removed from the farm.
Dec: Ireland is warned by the ministry about non-compliance with the ownership ban.
Apr 2024: Inspectors use a drone to locate at least 60 cattle on the loose.
Jul: A local farmer pens 60 but some evade mustering.
Oct: Ireland leases her property to another farmer.
Jun 2025: The court imposes another five-year disqualification on animal ownership.
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz
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