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Judge Kevin Kilrane said the 21-year-old man who stole the sheep will be known as such and that in itself was moral sentence in the community.
Dennis Thomas, with an address at Ardbane, Letterbarrow, Co Donegal, was found guilty of four sample charges of stealing 11 lambs worth a total of €580 from the southwest Donegal area at an earlier court hearing.
Judge Kilrane had adjourned the case to allow €4,000 to be distributed among the victims of the case and for sentencing.
In his evidence, farmer and neighbour to the defendant, Joe Coyle, said anyone who gathers sheep would know it is impossible to do on your own and that he would like to ask the defendant who he was covering up for.
Solicitor on behalf of the defendant Frank Dorrian said €4,000 in compensation had been paid to date, adding that the figure may be wrong but in favour of the injured parties.
The court heard that Mr Thomas had no previous convictions.
Mr Thomas was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison on each of the four charges.
The sentence was suspended on the condition that Mr Thomas is not convicted of an indictable offence within two years.
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