The Director for Public Prosecutions has accused a dairy farmer facing several animal welfare breaches of breaking the terms of the bail order against him and his company, the county’s circuit court heard on Tuesday.
Judge Kenneth Connolly explained to Seán Coughlan of Cum, Laherdane, Ballina, Co Mayo that he and his farm company Coughlan Farming Limited are suspected of failing to abide by bail conditions and that the prosecution wants to ask the court to revoke his bail.
The court heard the allegation of failing to abide by bail conditions stems from Coughlan’s failure to respond to correspondence issued in January 2026.
Coughlan now has the opportunity to respond to these allegations, as well as two previous pieces of prosecutor correspondence or face the potential of imprisonment, pending trial.
Charges and bail
The bail conditions facing Coughlan and his company arise from charges of animal neglect and failing to ensure animals were kept in a manner that would not threaten their health in late 2022.
Some 38 charges of animal cruelty relate to Coughlan and his dairy farm at Laragan, Elphin, Co Roscommon, while 35 relate to the company.
The court had heard from Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector James Casey in October 2025 that up to 500 calves had died on the farm between 2023 and 2025, with this figure including around 60% of all calves born in 2023.
Casey had stated that there was an approximate 50:50 split in the ration of male to female calf deaths on the farm.
Coughlan pleads not guilty to the charges facing both himself and Coughlan Farming Limited, and has claimed that he does not believe that he breached the conditions of his bail.
Warning
Judge Connolly warned Coughlan at Tuesday morning’s sitting that if the court found he had breached his bail, he “would be inclined to revoke your bail and that means you [go] to prison today and you will remain there until your trial is heard”.
The judge said Coughlan should take the opportunity of the court rising to make the necessary phone calls that would ensure “animals are fed and that sort of stuff in the event that this does not go well for you”.
Coughlan claimed that the papers issued by the prosecution alleging any breach of bail had only arrived at his house a few days before the hearing and that he didn’t fully understand the prosecution’s contentions.
Coughlan maintained that postal issues involving Eircodes and the sending of some of his post to family members with similar addresses were to blame.
The accused farmer was also representing himself in court as his legal representation had “pulled out” 10 days before the hearing and he claimed they “haven’t explained” the reasons for this.
The judge told Coughlan that there was “nothing I can do if you don’t understand” them, ie, the papers he had been served as a result of him representing himself in court.
It was also subsequently established at the sitting that Coughlan had failed to adequately respond to a section 150 notice from his then-representation outlining an estimation of their costs and this was the reason that he had no representation in court.
'Affairs in order'
Coughlan said that he did not believe he breached the conditions of his bail and contends that the prosecution's allegations of breaches of bail can be explained in an affidavit he must submit to the court by 16 March.
The prosecution’s motion seeking a revocation of Coughlan’s bail was adjourned until 24 March.
Judge Connolly told Coughlan to get his “farming affairs in order” before this sitting and said that he will not want to hear from him that he cannot go to prison “because you have animals to milk”.
The judge suggested that Coughlan’s “very big” wage bill proves that his herd could be milked if he was not on the farm.
Read more
Up to 500 calves died on Roscommon farm since 2023 court hears
October trial for dairy farmer accused of animal neglect
Dairy farmer to stand trial for animal neglect
The Director for Public Prosecutions has accused a dairy farmer facing several animal welfare breaches of breaking the terms of the bail order against him and his company, the county’s circuit court heard on Tuesday.
Judge Kenneth Connolly explained to Seán Coughlan of Cum, Laherdane, Ballina, Co Mayo that he and his farm company Coughlan Farming Limited are suspected of failing to abide by bail conditions and that the prosecution wants to ask the court to revoke his bail.
The court heard the allegation of failing to abide by bail conditions stems from Coughlan’s failure to respond to correspondence issued in January 2026.
Coughlan now has the opportunity to respond to these allegations, as well as two previous pieces of prosecutor correspondence or face the potential of imprisonment, pending trial.
Charges and bail
The bail conditions facing Coughlan and his company arise from charges of animal neglect and failing to ensure animals were kept in a manner that would not threaten their health in late 2022.
Some 38 charges of animal cruelty relate to Coughlan and his dairy farm at Laragan, Elphin, Co Roscommon, while 35 relate to the company.
The court had heard from Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector James Casey in October 2025 that up to 500 calves had died on the farm between 2023 and 2025, with this figure including around 60% of all calves born in 2023.
Casey had stated that there was an approximate 50:50 split in the ration of male to female calf deaths on the farm.
Coughlan pleads not guilty to the charges facing both himself and Coughlan Farming Limited, and has claimed that he does not believe that he breached the conditions of his bail.
Warning
Judge Connolly warned Coughlan at Tuesday morning’s sitting that if the court found he had breached his bail, he “would be inclined to revoke your bail and that means you [go] to prison today and you will remain there until your trial is heard”.
The judge said Coughlan should take the opportunity of the court rising to make the necessary phone calls that would ensure “animals are fed and that sort of stuff in the event that this does not go well for you”.
Coughlan claimed that the papers issued by the prosecution alleging any breach of bail had only arrived at his house a few days before the hearing and that he didn’t fully understand the prosecution’s contentions.
Coughlan maintained that postal issues involving Eircodes and the sending of some of his post to family members with similar addresses were to blame.
The accused farmer was also representing himself in court as his legal representation had “pulled out” 10 days before the hearing and he claimed they “haven’t explained” the reasons for this.
The judge told Coughlan that there was “nothing I can do if you don’t understand” them, ie, the papers he had been served as a result of him representing himself in court.
It was also subsequently established at the sitting that Coughlan had failed to adequately respond to a section 150 notice from his then-representation outlining an estimation of their costs and this was the reason that he had no representation in court.
'Affairs in order'
Coughlan said that he did not believe he breached the conditions of his bail and contends that the prosecution's allegations of breaches of bail can be explained in an affidavit he must submit to the court by 16 March.
The prosecution’s motion seeking a revocation of Coughlan’s bail was adjourned until 24 March.
Judge Connolly told Coughlan to get his “farming affairs in order” before this sitting and said that he will not want to hear from him that he cannot go to prison “because you have animals to milk”.
The judge suggested that Coughlan’s “very big” wage bill proves that his herd could be milked if he was not on the farm.
Read more
Up to 500 calves died on Roscommon farm since 2023 court hears
October trial for dairy farmer accused of animal neglect
Dairy farmer to stand trial for animal neglect
SHARING OPTIONS