A judge has ordered a farmer to pay £2,750, plus a £15 offender levy, for numerous animal movement and identification-related offences, following a court appearance.
Patrick McVerry, Tullyah Road, Belleeks, Newry, appeared before Newry Magistrates Court on Monday, July 19th, 2021.
Farmer in court
He pleaded guilty to:
- One charge of using an ear tag to identify an animal that had already been used to identify another animal;
- 24 charges of failure to notify the movement of animals onto his holding or the birth of said animals;
- 21 charges of failure to notify the movement of animals off his holding;
- 9 charges of providing false information to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
The case arose, following a cattle identification inspection carried out by Officers from DAERA Welfare and Enforcement Branch.
Farmer convicted for removing cattle tags from animal’s ears
Meanwhile, a judge convicted a 55-year-old farmer at court earlier this month.
Mr Rodney Robinson of Cushenny Road in Portadown appeared before Craigavon Magistrates on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021.
Farmer convicted at court for:
- Two charges of removing, or causing or permitting the removal of an animal’s ear tag;
- One charge of failure to notify the death of a bovine animal;
- Also, one charge of failure to keep a herd register.
Mr Robinson was fined £375.
The case arose, as a result of Mr Robinson removing the ear tags of two of his cattle. The department’s Welfare and Enforcement Branch (WEB) carried out an investigation.
DAERA stated that breaches of the cattle identification regulations weaken and undermine the cattle traceability system in Northern Ireland.
The spokesperson stated that this includes the integrity of the department’s Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS).
“The importance of correctly identifying a bovine animal cannot be overstated; an animal’s identification number accords it a description, sex, age, movement history, and disease status.”
£25,000 fine for farmer over health and safety breaches
Meanwhile, a judge has fined a farmer nearly €30,000 following an employee’s death.
Mr William James Doyle appeared before Newry Crown Court on Monday, July 5th, 2021.
The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has investigated a fatal incident which subsequently has led to the prosecution of Mr William James Doyle, Ballyward, Castlewellan.
The case followed the death in May 2018 of Mr Toirdealbhach Larkin, known as Turlough, a 27-year-old employee of Mr Doyle.
