However, the 29 cattle on the same site can stay for now, provided that he can prove ownership of them.

After hearing that the 51-year-old farmer had nowhere to put the sheep, the judge told him: “I don’t care where they go - if they are not gone, you are going to jail.”

The dispute centres over a one-and-a-half acre field owned by the man’s brother, who has a barring order against him.

He had committed to removing the animals over a week ago, but police confirmed they were still in the field, the Irish Examiner reports.

Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court said: “You must have every ewe and lamb removed from the lands by tomorrow. If they are not removed you are going down to Limerick prison.”