TWO farmers appeared at Longford District Court yesterday on charges relating to clenbuterol, commonly known as "angel dust". One was fined £2,000 for possessing and administering the banned substance, while the other was fined £300 for possessing a container with a residue of clenbuterol.
Sean Farrelly (37), St Margaret's, Cooleeny, Longford, pleaded guilty to possession of the banned substance and to four charges of administering it to animals.
Mr Brian Flaherty, a Department of Agriculture vet, told Judge Aidan O'Donnell that on November 2nd, 1995, his team came to Farrelly's farm and found it unoccupied.
Suspect containers were found, which on subsequent analysis were found to contain clenbuterol. Mr Flaherty told the judge that when Farrelly arrived in his car a similar container was found in the boot. Farrelly was then cautioned and samples taken from his animals.
The samples revealed that the animals had been treated with clenbuterol. Farrelly (37) is married with three children. The court heard that he had farmed at Cooleeny since 1976 and was the sole carer of the 10 animals.
Farrelly was fined £1,000 for possessing clenbuterol and £1,000 for administering a banned substance. He was also ordered to pay £60 in witness expenses.
Michael Farrell, Cooleeny, pleaded guilty to possessing hormones and a container with the residue of clenbuterol. Mr Tony Adams, an officer with the Department of Agriculture, told Judge O'Donnell that on June 10th, 1992, he and other officials had found cartridges with some hormones inside Farrell's house, and outside they found containers with the residue of clenbuterol.
Farrell was fined £300 for possession of clenbuterol.