David and Anthony Maher: Livestock farmers fined $165,000 in animal cruelty case
Two brothers from North East Victoria have been penalised for animal cruelty that lead to the death and serious disablement of livestock. (File picture)
Two livestock farmers in North East Victoria have been fined a combined total of $165,000, convicted and banned from being in charge of any farm animals for 10 years, over a series of animal cruelty charges.
Brothers David and Anthony Maher, from Balmattum, near Euroa, learnt their sentencing in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court last week.
Anthony pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty, aggravated cruelty leading to death and aggravated cruelty leading to serious disablement of cattle. These related to six individual cows and a herd of cattle.
He was convicted and fined $70,000.
David pleaded guilty to threatening an Agriculture Victoria authorised officer, two charges of animal cruelty, one of aggravated cruelty leading to death and two of aggravated cruelty leading to serious disablement, relating to seven individual cows, a sheep and two herds of cattle.
He was convicted and fined $90,000, including a $5,000 fine for threatening an authorised officer.
Both men were banned from being in charge of any farm animal for 10 years under a Disqualification Order, however the order was suspended until January next year so the men could make arrangements for the animals currently in their care.
Agriculture Victoria compliance manager Daniel Bode said despite a number of notices to comply being issued, Agriculture Victoria authorised officers observed a persistence of intolerable conditions for the livestock.
“Throughout the period of offending (in 2018 and 2019), livestock were not being provided with appropriate food, along with inadequate supervision, veterinary treatment, or safe access to water for various individual cattle or sheep, leaving our officers no alternative but to euthanise several animals,” Mr Bode said.
He said Agriculture Victoria authorised officers, as with any worker, are entitled to have a safe workplace.
“This includes being free of threats to their personal safety. The $5000 fine for threatening an authorised officer is recognition of this right.”
Agriculture Victoria said that the magistrate noted if the accused had pleaded not guilty, he would have imposed an immediate term of imprisonment for each accused for six and nine months respectively.
• To make a livestock welfare complaint contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au
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