BELFAST — The trial of a Swanville farmer charged with 13 counts of cruelty to animals after allegedly neglecting his pigs before ultimately shooting 12 of 13 to death the day before an inspection is under way in Waldo County Unified Court. 

Jerry Ireland is the owner of Ireland Farm in Swanville and was the one who interacted with District Humane agents during the months prior to the farm’s scheduled inspection. The animals were shot, and some stabbed the day before an inspection of the farm and the pigs’ living conditions on Ireland Farm was to be conducted by agents with the Animal Welfare Program, which is a part of the Department of Agriculture.

Ireland first came to the attention of District Humane Agents in November 2017, when a neighbor reported a group of cows from Ireland’s farm had been loose for over two weeks. This prompted District Humane Agent Rae-Ann Demos and Animal Control Officer Heidi Blood to travel to the property, where they reportedly saw several pigs and cows without clear access to food and water. 

“Mr. Ireland was present, and expressed displeasure with what he considered ‘harassment’ by ACO Blood. The officers observed “filthy living conditions for the pigs” and gave instructions for proper shelter and suggestions for proper feeding of the pigs,” according to court documents. 

 Subsequent complaints about neglect on the farm were also made in January 2018, February 2018, and March 2018, with agents attempting to change the animals’ living situation at each visit. Ireland was reportedly uncooperative during Humane Agent Demos’ visits to the farm. A final visit to the farm was made March 23, which included Caldwell Jackson, a representative from the Department of Agriculture, who scheduled an inspection of the farm to take place on March 28, 2018.

On March 27, 2018, Agent Demos reported that she was at a property neighboring the farm watching someone on the Ireland farm shooting at the pigs, while a backhoe dug a large hole for burial purposes.

In total 12 of 13 pigs were killed, mostly by gunfire, though several were also stabbed. During a subsequent inspection of the property, conducted after a search warrant was obtained, agents from the Department of Agriculture removed five “very thin” pig carcasses from the farm, in addition to one very thin live pig. That pig, later named Angus was taken in by Peace Ridge Sanctuary in Brooks and required months of rehabilitation. 

The case against Ireland was originally set to go to trial October, but Ireland’s attorneys filed a Motion to Continue the Docket Call Oct. 2, saying that Ireland required additional time to secure an expert witness for trial. 

Another set of trial dates were set to occur in December, though another Motion for Continuation was granted Dec. 1, after Ireland’s defense attorney had a conflicting obligation for several of the days selected. 

Over a dozen names were included on witness lists for both the prosecution and defense, though it is unclear how many will actually be called. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com