The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to prosecute a number of people as a result of the Garda investigation into the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, it has been confirmed.
The outbreak cost the Irish economy an estimated €210 million. It was confined to the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth and it is understood that at least one of the men to be prosecuted is originally from the area.
The investigation was lead by the National Bureau of Fraud Investigation who set up headquarters in Ardee, Co Louth. It was concentrated on the alleged illegal movement of sheep and cattle at the time of the outbreak.
It is nearly two years since the outbreak was confirmed in a flock of sheep on the farm of Mr Michael Rice at Proleek, Ravensdale.
There was never any suggestion that Mr Rice was in anyway involved in any activity related to the outbreak.
The infected sheep are believed to have originated on the farm of Mr Maurice Collins, on whose farm in Meigh, Co Armagh, the first case of foot-and-mouth in Northern Ireland was confirmed in February 28th, 2001, and an exclusion zone immediately put in place. The Proleek case was confirmed on March 22nd and in the subsequent cull more than 54,000 animals including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs were slaughtered at a cost of €2.6 million.
Some 416 farms were restricted and the World Organisation for Animal Health did not restore Ireland's foot-and-mouth free status until September 2001.
Meanwhile, 17 farmers from the midlands and Border and west are to be prosecuted for alleged irregularities involving cattle tags and making false claims for premiums from the Department of Agriculture.
In some cases the claims amounted to more than €220,000. They are expected to be brought before the Circuit Court later this year.
A joint Garda/Department of Agriculture investigation into the alleged irregularities, Operation Oxblood, began before the foot-and-mouth outbreak but involved the activities of a number of alleged smugglers who subsequently came to Garda attention when they began their investigation into the outbreak itself.