A man has been convicted of operating an illegal slaughterhouse this week, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The man in question was fined and the equipment seized at the plant was subject to a forfeiture order following a day in court yesterday (Wednesday, November 25), the authority confirmed.
In a statement to AgriLand, a spokesperson for the FSAI said:
“On April 9, 2018, an intelligence-led investigation by the FSAI, Louth County Council, Monaghan County Council, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána, discovered an illegal slaughterhouse and cutting plant operated by Barry McConnon at Lannat, Corcreaghy, Co. Louth.”
Barry McConnon was prosecuted for 16 offences of food law, the spokesperson noted.
“On November 25, 2020, at Carrickmacross District Court sitting in Monaghan, Barry McConnon pleaded guilty to six offences before Judge Denis McLoughlin.
Barry McConnon was convicted for the offence of operating an illegal slaughterhouse, he was fined €2,500, paid €1,000 towards the costs and a forfeiture order was made in respect of all the equipment seized.
“The judge adjourned the remaining five summonses to March 10, 2021,” the FSAI representative added.
1.7t of meat seized by FSAI
In other FSAI news, last week the authority took some 1.7t of meat deemed to be illegally labelled from an unregistered food business.
Commenting last week, on Tuesday, November 17, the authority noted that the meat was taken following a joint investigation from the FSAI, South Dublin County Council and An Garda Síochána.
The meat was sent to be destroyed and a compliance notice was served, the authority noted.