A 50-year-old farmer who smuggled sheep into Fermanagh from the Republic of Ireland has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined £4,000.
Eric Andrew Lindsay, Gortnagriffin, Florencecourt, Enniskillen, was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court on 5 August 2013 of two charges under the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009, one charge under the Animal by-Products (Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 2011 and two charges under the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations (NI) 2011.
Lindsay pleaded guilty and was fined £4,000 plus £52 costs and £15 Offenders levy. On the Animal By-Products charge he received four months imprisonment suspended for two years.
Lindsay was convicted of one charge of being the keeper of ovine animals, in that he failed to keep an up to date herd register as required by Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No.21/2004, in contravention of Article 17(1) of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009, contrary to Article 52(1) of the Diseases of Animals (NI) Order 1981.
He was convicted of one charge of being a person to whom an animal by-product requirement applied, in contravention of Regulation 6 of the Animal By-Products(Enforcement) Regulations (NI) 2011, in that he failed to hold a carcase or part of a carcase of any farmed animal that had not been slaughtered for human consumption, pending consignment or disposal, in accordance with the EU Control Regulations as read with the EU Implementing Regulations, in such a manner as to ensure that any animal or bird would not have access to it, contrary to Regulation 17 of the said Regulations.
Lindsay was convicted of one charge of being the keeper of ovine animals, in that he removed the original method of identification of animals originating in another member State in contravention of Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 and Article 27(2) of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009, contrary to Article 52(1) of the Diseases of Animals (NI) Order 1981.
He was convicted of one charge of bringing into Northern Ireland an animal from another member state without it being accompanied by the completed signed health certificate required for that animal in the relevant instrument in Schedule 2 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations (NI) 2011, namely Article 7(d) of Council Directive 2004/68/EC, contrary to Regulation 39 of the said Regulations.
Lindsay was convicted of one charge of bringing into Northern Ireland an animal from another member state without having notified the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at least 24 hours in advance of the intended arrival of the consignment, contrary to Regulation 39 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations (NI) 2011.
It would be regarded as good practice to remove without delay an animal carcase from a farm to prevent spread of disease and protect public health and avoid detrimental effects to the environment, DARD said in a statement this morning.
“Trade with other Member States is important to the Northern Ireland Sheep Industry and the Department takes a serious view of anything that might undermine this. By disregarding Importation requirements, individuals may derive short term financial gain, but ultimately compromises Northern Ireland’s Animal Health status. This impacts on all farmers,” the statement added.