A west Limerick-based man involved in the greyhound industry up to a year and a half ago was sentenced to a total of seven months in prison for possession, importation and sale of a number of unauthorised animal remedies at a special sitting of Listowel District Court yesterday.
Dominic Magnone (54), of Killaculleen, Tournafulla, Co Limerick, described in court as an Italian gentleman and a British subject living in this country, pleaded guilty to 18 charges relating to 17 animal remedies.
On November 18th, 1999, customs officers at Rosslare searched a vehicle belonging to Magnone and found prohibited substances, including Fortex.
Department of Agricultural veterinary inspectors led by Mr Brian Flaherty subsequently searched Magnone's house and outbuildings at Killaculleen as well as his business premises, Greyhound and Pet World, Convent Street, Abbeyfeale.
In both places they found a number of substances prohibited by the Irish Medicines Board as well as medicines which should only be sold under prescription. They included the steroid growth promoter, Drive, with analgesic products, anti-lice products, nicotine- and caffeine-containing products and antibiotics which should be sold only under licence.
The court heard Magnone had a previous conviction for substances similar to some of the products discovered in 1999.
Mr Justin McQuaid, defending, said his client had ceased training greyhounds in the last 18 months and had very little involvement with the industry now. His merchant's licence was revoked in August 2001 following his previous conviction.
Greyhound and Pet World was now run by Magnone's partner, Ms Kathleen Murphy, under a more limited licence.
He had already suffered in that his Mercedes van and goods had been seized by Customs officers. They had deteriorated since the seizure.
Magnone had a health condition exacerbated by a car accident. He weighed 25 stones.
Judge Terence Finn imposed three-month concurrent sentences on some of the charges, and four-month concurrent sentences on others, to run consecutively. He was ordered to pay €635 costs.