IAN MCGRATH CONVICTED IN CREWE FOR ANIMAL NEGLECT AND BADGER TRAPPING

Ian Gordon McGrath, born on March 1, 1975, and residing at The Paddocks, Sandy Lane, Cranage, near Holmes Chapel, Crewe CW6 8HR, was convicted in 2020 for serious animal neglect and related offenses.

McGrath was found to have left 35 cow carcasses to decay on his dairy farm and neglected six other cows, which were in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized. An inspection of Grange Farm in Over Peover, Knutsford, conducted by Cheshire East Council in 2018, revealed that some animals had no access to food or water, and efforts had been made to cover some of the decayed carcasses. The farm has since been taken over by new management unrelated to the case.

During the court hearing, it was revealed that McGrath had been experiencing mental health issues since the death of his father in 2014. Rachel Cooper, prosecuting, stated, "An experienced dairy farmer like McGrath must have known his actions were causing suffering to his animals." However, Adrian Roberts, defending, argued that McGrath had been under mental stress and financial pressure due to bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in his herd and declining milk prices.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders described the case as "appalling". McGrath admitted to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to properly dispose of dead cattle. He was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay over £17,000 in fines and costs, and required to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he is banned from owning or keeping livestock for life, a restriction which can be reviewed after five years.

Additional context includes McGrath's prior involvement with controversial practices: until June 2018, he was a director of Environment Clear Ltd., a company involved in badger culling. He was recorded setting a cage trap near an active badger sett, an activity documented by badger welfare campaigners. In 2017, McGrath, a noted supporter of bloodsports and the Cheshire Hunt, was filmed setting such traps. He is recognized as an expert on bovine tuberculosis and previously worked with DEFRA’s eradication team. In 2015, he appeared in a video released by the National Farmers Union discussing bovine TB.