‘One of the worst cases of animal cruelty’ – Women (60) jailed and given lifetime ban from owning animals

A woman has been sentenced to three months in prison and given a lifetime ban from owning animals after she was convicted of cruelty to horses.

Ms Yvonne Coe (60) of Main Street, Tinahely, Co Wicklow was also fined €5,000, and ordered to pay a €500 contribution to ISPCA costs and €6,441.15 in costs to the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT).

During a hearing on December 13, 2023, ISPCA Senior Inspector Fiona Conlon gave evidence in relation to a total of nine horses that were removed from lands and a barn off Main Street and Pound Lane in Tinahely on three dates in July and August 2022.

Ms Conlon described how she found several horses in various states of neglect, with all horses found to be visibly underweight, coats matted with faecal matter and hooves overgrown.

One horse was found to have two swollen legs and was struggling to walk while another had a semi-protruded and swollen penis.

The defendant admitted under caution that veterinary attention had not been sought for either animal despite the latter horse having sustained the injury three-years prior.

The living conditions of the horses were also found to be inadequate, with insufficient light and ventilation as well as a significant accumulation of dung.

Between July 29 and August 2, 2022, eight horses were surrendered by Ms Coe and brought to the IHWT for assessment and treatment.

On August 9, Ms Conlon discovered another horse that had not been disclosed during the previous visits. The horse had been shut in another shed and found in an emaciated state with deformed hooves.

The horse in question required sedation and pain relief in order to enable the animal to travel.

Of the nine horses surrendered, three could not be adequately rehabilitated to allow them to live pain free and ultimately had to be euthanised, the court heard.

When handing down his sentence, Judge David Kennedy said the case was the worst case of animal cruelty in his 15 years on the bench.

Judge Kennedy also said that the photos of the horses were extremely distressing and the suffering of the animals over a prolonged period of time was very avoidable.

“This successful prosecution is a significant step forward in ensuring the good welfare of equines in our community,” Inspector Conlon said.

“This was one of the worst cases of animal cruelty I have witnessed, every shed I entered I found yet another animal in horrendous condition and living in totally unsuitable accommodations. I want to acknowledge Jill Power and her team from the Irish Horse Welfare Trust who helped me get them to safety,” she added.

“Unfortunately, the outcome was not good for three of the horses and they had to be euthanised on welfare grounds.

“Good equine welfare is not just about the ethical treatment of horses it is the foundation of their health and performance and the bond we share with these incredible animals,” Ms Conlon said.

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