Slaughter of Cattle and Sheep (Amendment) Act, 1935

Restrictions on time of slaughter.

15.—(1) It shall not be lawful for any person to slaughter on Sunday any cattle or sheep for sale for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann.

(2) Every person who slaughters any cattle or sheep in contravention of the next preceding sub-section of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.

(3) The Minister may by order, whenever he thinks fit so to do, prohibit, either generally or in such areas as may be specified in such order, the slaughter of cattle or sheep at any hours or times other than such hours or times as shall be specified in that behalf in such order.

(4) Every person who slaughters any cattle or sheep in contravention of an order made under the next preceding sub-section of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.

(5) Where a person is charged with an offence under any sub-section of this section, it shall be a good defence to such charge for such person to prove that the animal in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was suffering pain caused by injury or disease and was slaughtered in order to avoid the unnecessary suffering to which such animal would have been subjected by deferring its slaughter until a time at which such slaughter would not be a contravention of this section.