Calf given to Bóthar despite controversy

Generous local farmers are determined to go ahead with the donation of a calf to Bóthar to help impoverished families in Rwanda despite the recent controversy surrounding the charity.

Lakeland Dairy Discussion Group has donated a Friesian heifer calf by Seville (FR4547) from Progressive Genetics in the hope that it will ultimately make a life-changing difference to a farm family in the African country.

“The group members agreed to all chip in for the heifer calf if I donated it to Bóthar,” said Michael Smith from Lishenry, Ballyjamesduff. “I brought the calf to Loughan House Open Prison to be reared with approximately 20 other calves.”

The inmates at Loughan House will learn farm skills in rearing the livestock until they are 18 months old, and will then they will be transported to their new home in Rwanda.

Bóthar’s reputation was damaged after former charity chief executive David Moloney, reportedly admitted that he and the former chief executive, the late Peter Ireton, misappropriated hundreds of thousands of euro in cash. The charity was reportedly led to believe the cash went to support the work of nuns helping the poor in Tanzania.

The dairy discussion group are “absolutely devastated” by the current controversy surrounding the charity.

“We were absolutely devastated to realise that so much money now appears to have been misappropriated by the CEO,” said Michael. “This charity had done so much to help poor families in Rwanda. Hopefully our heifer will still make it there although it is beyond our control now.”

Group members are Richard Shekleton, Jonathan Wilson, Mícheál Smith, Shane Dowd, Declan O’Gorman, Seamas Clarke, Andrew Clarke, Ciarán Boylan, Douglas Kinkade, Liam Daly, James McKenna, Jim Smith and Teagasc advisor Owen McPartland.