A TWO-MONTH prison sentence imposed on a Co Carlow farmer at District Court level was doubled but suspended on appeal at yesterday's sitting of Carlow Circuit Court.
James Jordan, said to be in his mid-fifties, of Bawnleigh, Old Leighlin, Co Carlow, had pleaded guilty to two summonses relating to "angel dust" (clenbuterol) at Bagenalstown District Court last December. He appealed yesterday against the severity of the sentence.
Mr Declan Holmes, superintending agricultural officer, Department of Agriculture, said he and a team of officers had travelled to James Jordan's premises at Old Leigblin on August 4th, 1993. In the course of a search of the farmyard, they found a 500 ml plastic container and 13 empty hormone implant cartridges. On analysis, the 500 ml container was shown to have traces of clenbuterol.
The court heard that Jordan, a father of three grown-up children, was a 100-acre farmer with a herd of 150 beasts.
Judge Sean O'Leary, lifting the custodial sentence, noted the appellant's previous good character and said: "It would be vindictive of the court to impose a custodial sentence.
Jordan had been sentenced to two months and fined £1,000 for possession of a 500 ml container of clenbuterol on August 4th 1993 at Bawnleigh. He was further fined £1,000 for possession of a Finaplix implant cartridge on the same date.