A man from Co Meath last night appeared at a special court sitting in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, charged with an offence relating to irregularities in cattle tagging, writes Elaine Keogh.
Mr Kevin Tuite (31), of Swift Court, Trim, is charged that he had in his possession six cattle bearing ear tags which could be confused with ear tags attached to or required to be attached to animals under the Bovine TB Order 1999.
The offence, which is contrary to Section 48 of the Disease of Animals Act, is alleged to have occurred on the April 2nd this year at Griffinstown, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath.
Det Sgt Gerry Nohilly said Tuite had nothing to say on being charged last night. The court heard he met gardai by arrangement and had a bailsperson in court with him.
In reply to Judge John F. Neilan, the accused said he was a farmer renting a 114acre farm in Kinnegad. He has been out of work for the last three months.
Judge Neilan said he would fix bail to reflect the seriousness of the charge and adjourned the case to Mullingar District Court on June 8th.
Bail was set on the accused's bond of £1,200 and an independent surety of £3,000. One third of the bail (£1,400) was lodged with the court last night and the accused was remanded on bail to the next court date.
The accused is the first person to be charged by detectives investigating alleged irregularities in cattle tagging. Code-named Operation Oxblood, the investigation began approximately 18 months ago and involves gardai from Mullingar and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The investigation has led gardai to search farms and premises in Meath, Westmeath, Tipperary, Wexford and Cork.