A Co Monaghan farmer who was prosecuted for 56 breaches of the EU and Department of Agriculture regulations in relation to the movement of livestock on his farm near the south Armagh border, has pleaded guilty to 10 charges and has been fined €4,500.
At a special sitting of the Carrickmacross District Court yesterday, William Cranston (32), Drumacrib, Castleblayney, was also ordered by Judge Patrick Clyne to pay €5,300 in costs.
Brendan Daly, a senior investigations officer with the Department of Agriculture, said an investigation extending from Dingle, Co Kerry, to Northern Ireland, was undertaken in relation to some 40 cattle, three of which were disposed of by Cranston in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Brian Flaherty, a veterinary officer attached to the department's investigations branch, said it was important for disease safeguards and for the livestock industry that the regulations were complied with and that all animals were fully traceable.
Cranston was prosecuted over the illegal movement of the livestock between May 2002 and August 2003 and with failing to provide information or produce herd records in relation to his cattle, as required under EU and brucellosis legislation.
Shane Murray, defending, said Cranston denied knowledge of all the animals to which the charges related, but accepted responsibility for the three animals which were disposed of in Carlow.
The State agreed to drop all the charges but the 10 to which Cranston pleaded guilty.