A Co Monaghan farmer has been jailed for six months for the illegal importation of livestock.
William Cranston (40) of Skerrymore, Drumacrib, was sentenced at a special sitting of the District Court in Monaghan town on Wednesday.
He was convicted on 13 charges relating to the alleged illegal importation of livestock contrary to Department of Agriculture regulations between May 1st and December 30th, 2014.
The case was taken by the Minister for Agriculture and the charges also related to the alleged possession of false ear-tags and the illegal exportation of animals.
One of the charges was in respect of an alleged failure by Cranston to notify the Minister of the movement of livestock along the Monaghan/Armagh border.
Judge Deirdre Gearty was told that Cranston was previously convicted for having an quantity of an illicit livestock fattening drug on his farm.
Sentences in respect of each of the charges were imposed to run concurrently, from three- to six-month terms of imprisonment.
