Belmullet man stole calves … from wrong farmer





A Belmullet man has pleaded guilty to stealing three calves from a neighbouring farmer.

Michael Kilcoyne of Bayview, Binghamstown, Belmullet, appeared before the local district court on Wednesday last.

The court was told Mr Kilcoyne thought he was stealing them from a farmer he was in dispute with. However, it turned out the cattle were stolen from a different farmer altogether. The defendant had consumed a bottle of whiskey at the time of the incident.

Superintendent Joe McKenna told the court the incident took place sometime between March 4 and 5, 2012, when three young calves – two pedigree heifers and a commercial calf – were taken from lands at Annagh, Belmullet.

They were the property of a Liam Lavelle, who was renting lands at Annagh.

After making inquiries, gardaí called to the defendant’s house and found the three calves in the shed. Their identification ear tags had been removed. The calves had a value of €6,500 and were returned to their owner.

Defending solicitor Alan Gannon told the court it was his client’s 57th birthday on the day of the court, and that he had lived in Belmullet most of his life. The court also heard that Mr Kilcoyne was receiving Disability Allowance, as his hands were damaged from working with jackhammers over many years.

Mr Gannon said that Kilcoyne was in dispute with a neighbouring over what Kilcoyne said was the trespassing of this farmer’s livestock onto his land, causing damage.

On the day in question, Kilcoyne had gone into Belmullet and bought two bottles of whiskey. After drinking one bottle, he decided to take the three cattle, not aware they did not belong to the man he was in dispute with.

Mr Gannon said Kilcoyne ‘accepts in sobriety’ that it was the wrong thing to do, even if he had stole from ‘the right’ farmer.

He said that Kilcoyne said his drinking is now under control and that he has no previous convictions.

The court heard that Mr Kilcoyne is married with eight children, the youngest still living at home. Since this incident, he has given up the farm to one of his sons. Mr Gannon said that move ensured that were there are any more disputes, they would not directly involve his client.

Judge James Faughan said that the theft was one thing, but that the subsequent taking of the ear tags was another, adding that he wanted to hear the victim’s view.

The matter was adjourned to February 12.



