Through a freedom of information request, the newspaper obtained documents showing that Longford County Council had spent over €300,000 “to date” to minimise environmental risks at the pig farm of Donal Connaughton (58), from Elfeet, Newtowncashel, Co Longford.

Mr Connaughton was prosecuted in 2014 for inappropriately storing around 4m gallons of slurry at his farm.

Earlier this year, Mr Connaughton was also convicted of false imprisonment, threatening to cause serious harm, assault causing harm and criminal damage. The court heard at the time that he had forced two repossession men to strip naked and enter a pen with a boar at his farm in 2010.

The Longford Leader obtained additional documents showing that the state had spent almost €85,000 on legal aid and prosecution costs in the cases against Mr Connaughton.