Prosecution and defence united on delays in cattle fraud case

The years-long cattle fraud case against Corey Ireland continues to face delays with both sides requesting a further adjournment. We break down what happened in court today.

Defence and prosecution have both agreed to a further adjournment in the case against alleged cattle fraudster Corey Ireland, citing the complexity of a 10,000-page brief of evidence.

Mr Ireland, who formerly ran the Ireland’s Angus Stud at Kyeamba in southern NSW, is facing 16 fraud charges and appeared via video link in the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on Friday.

Both the prosecutor and Mr Ireland’s counsel have agreed to a further adjournment so they can have a “meaningful discussion” over the alleged facts.

Judge Stephen Hanley did not oppose the adjournment to June 6, and Mr Ireland was excused at the next court date if legally represented.

Crown prosecutor Max Pincott appeared before the court on video link and agreed that the brief was lengthy.

Corey Ireland at his former property at Kyeamba in southern NSW.

“You can see behind me, we have a 10,000-page brief,” he said when describing more than 18 large lever-arch files placed on a boardroom table.

The court was told that the defence and prosecution had started having “meaningful discussions” earlier this week in regard to facts that could be agreed upon.

Judge Hanley said he would encourage discussion and was not opposed to the further adjournment.

“There is a large scope for agreement on the documentation,” he said.

The charges against Mr Ireland came after police launched Strikeforce Seger and carried out a subsequent raid of his former property in southern NSW in December 2019.

He was later charged with 13 fraud-related offences in 2020 and another three in 2023.

The matter has been before both local and District Court more than 60 times, and Mr Ireland has not entered a plea despite being listed for an arraignment on Friday.

Mr Ireland’s bail was continued.