A SIX-month suspended sentence was handed down at Dublin District Court to a 74-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to 10 charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.

Before Judge Anthony Halpin was Janet Ball of Reynoldstown Farm, in The Naul, North Co Dublin.

The late Richard Ball bred the great Reynoldstown there, twice winner of the Aintree Grand National (1935 and 1936).

The court heard that approximately 140 animals were kept on the farm which operated as a pet farm. Among them were horses, donkeys, dogs, rabbits, and an assortment of poultry.

The charges followed a two-day inspection of her home by Gardai and the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) in April 2021. Ten dogs were found in one room of the house with no ventilation or natural light. There were 33 dogs inside the property, many caged with no water access.

RTÉ covered the case this week, reporting the judge as saying:”This is a very distressing case of animal cruelty.”

He noted from prosecuting counsel Matthew Holmes that the defendant had no prior convictions.

Ball had also cooperated with the DSPCA, which allowed them to rescue and re-home most of the dogs, rabbits, geese, ducks, and guinea pigs on the farm.

Patrick Jackson BL, for the defendant, said this was her first time before the court.

Judge Halpin imposed a six-month suspended sentence on the condition Ball does not reoffend for the next two years and disqualified her from working with animals for five years.

A veterinary surgeon reporting a decomposing dog on the floor of the kitchen. Another veterinary surgeon examined 28 horses, 14 donkeys and one ewe and found them to be in moderate condition.

Four dogs and two horses were allowed to remain on the farm.

Jaunting car tragedy

Separately, six High Court actions have been launched by the family of an American couple who tragically died after their hired pony and trap plunged down a ravine at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co Kerry.

The Irish Independent and The Irish Examiner reported that the family of Rosalyn Joy Few (64) and her partner Normand Larose (62) are suing Kerry County Council and the pony and trap driver over the fatal accident which happened on April 9th 2018.

The cases are listed to commence in the High Court in early July. The family members are suing Kerry County Council and trap driver Dan Casey, of Beaufort, Killarney.

All the claims made in each case are denied.