A cattle rustler who stole cattle from an elderly neighbour is being shunned in his local community by former friends and acquaintances.
At Ennis Circuit Court, 42-year-old Padraig O’Brien of Maghereigh, Mountshannon pleaded guilty to 15 separate counts of stealing cattle off his neighbour, 74 year old John Ford between December 2013 and January 17th 2015.
In court, counsel for the accused, Patrick Whyms said a psychiatric report records how former friends and acquaintances “will no longer talk to Padraig O’Brien” because of these offences.
Mr Whyms said that the report records Mr O’Brien “is clearly not welcome at community events” and that he “is going to live with the shame and disgrace for the rest of his life.”
He had stolen cattle from Mr Ford in May and December 2013 and went undetected, but his third theft was discovered as a result of a hard frost that left the imprint of the stolen cattle hooves’ on the edge of the road that led a trail to Mr O’Brien’s farm.
A ten month Garda investigation ensued, led by Det Garda Bernard Casey, and more of the animals were recovered through DNA technology.
Mr O’Brien has paid over an independently assessed amount of €17,000 in compensation to the victim.
He told Gardaí he was sorry, and the court heard he was driven to commit the crimes by financial pressure.
He has no previous convictions.
Padraig O’Brien was remanded on bail to appear before Judge Gerald Keys again on Friday.
