A BALLYDEHOB man charged with stealing cattle worth €53,000 has been granted bail with strict conditions.

Colm Dineen (32), of Cappaghmore, Ballydehob appeared at Macroom District Court on Wednesday where bail was granted on condition he stays out of the county of Cork and resides in Wexford until a place at St Patrick’s Psychiatric Hospital in Dublin is available.

Det Gda Martin Bohane told Judge Joanne Carroll the State was objecting to bail for fear the accused may commit further offences. He said cattle rustling has caused unrest in the local community, and a house was ransacked in Rosscarbery. He told the court the accused has admitted to all the charges. Solicitor Flor Murphy agreed his client has made full admissions, and the main reason for the bail application was to get him assessed by a psychiatrist.

He said this could take up to six months if he remained behind bars due to a long waiting list at Cork Prison.

‘His family have sourced a facility in Dublin but he can only take it up if he can get a referral from his GP,’ said Mr Murphy, who said his client has showed anxiety and depression since 2020 but there was no follow up with mental health services due to COVID.

Eileen Dineen said it was ‘like a bolt out of the blue’ when her son was arrested. She said she is worried about his mental health.

She said if bail was granted she would take him to her sister’s holiday home in Wexford until a place was secured for him in Dublin.

Adjourning the case to March 3rd, Judge Carroll granted bail if he resides in Wexford in the care of his mother or in St Patrick’s Psychiatric Hospital in Dublin. She directed him to stay out of the county of Cork, surrender his passport, obey a curfew, sign on daily and provide his mobile phone number to gardaí.

He must also have no contact directly or indirectly with the injured parties, and abstain from social media usage other than with his immediate family. Eileen Dineen was accepted as an independent surety of €1,000 and told she could forfeit the money if any of the bail conditions are breached.

She remanded him on bail in a cash bond of €200 and told his mother she is going to have to apply measures to ensure he doesn’t escape at night.

The accused faces four cattle theft charges and one burglary charge, including the alleged theft of 12 Friesian heifers and six Friesian bulls worth €30,00 from the farm of Brian Lawlor at Lakelands, near Skibbereen on November 24th 2025.