Case No. 3152Animal cruelty/neglect · Co. Limerick · 16 Aug 2022
Farmer Seamus Looby pleads guilty to 173 animal cruelty charges in Co. Limerick
Seamus Looby, a 68-year-old farmer from Garryspillane, Co. Limerick, pleaded guilty to 173 out of 318 charges of animal neglect after hundreds of calves were found dead or in severe distress across 100 acres of his land between March and September 2022. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan remanded him on continuing bail to 3 June to fix a date for sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted6 May
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatLooby pleaded guilty to 173 out of 318 charges of animal neglect (irishtimes.com)
- whatRemnants of calves that appeared to have been burned were found (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby denied any involvement in burning carcasses (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby told officials another man owned the calves and delivered them to his lands (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby admitted 67 counts of breaching a duty to protect animal welfare (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby admitted 68 counts of breaching a prohibition on animal cruelty (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby admitted 27 counts of failing to comply with an animal welfare notice (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby admitted 11 counts of breaching EU regulations on animal byproducts (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe other man allegedly took possession of calves from farmers who considered them of low or no value (irishtimes.com)
- whatLooby had a previous animal cruelty conviction from 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe calves were found across 100 acres of Looby's lands (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe neglect of calves occurred between March and September 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLooby faces up to five years in prison and/or a €250,000 fine (irishtimes.com)
- otherLooby signed over the running of the farm to other family members (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 6 May2026Farmer becomes ‘pariah’ after pleading guilty to ‘one of worst’ animal cruelty cases, court hears
Court heard evidence from Department of Agriculture inspectors describing the conditions found on the farm, the role of an unnamed man who allegedly supplied the calves, and Looby's previous 2018 animal cruelty conviction. Sentencing date to be fixed on 3 June.
convicted, Seamus Looby, 68, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Loobysuspect, male