The Irish Veterinary Union has formally complained to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions about a five-hour raid on its office by staff from the Competition Authority investigating alleged price-fixing of bovine TB tests.
The raid, carried out under search warrants issued by the District Court, began on Wednesday at noon, and the officers left with 174 documents relating to the union's fees.
Mr Pat Brady, general secretary of the 1,000-strong union, has written to the general secretary of the ICTU, Mr Peter Cassells, complaining that the raid was a breach of civil liberties and wants the matter investigated.
He claimed that during the raid the seven officers who took part looked at all files, including personal files which could not have had anything to do with their investigation.
"They came in and produced their warrants and said they were investigating a possible breach of the law. The upshot was that they were investigating possible pricefixing of bovine TB tests," he said.
"Each of them produced a copy of their authorisation and for the next five hours they tore the office apart looking for information. They left at 5.30 p.m. with 174 documents," he said.
Mr Brady said there had been a campaign orchestrated in some farming circles against vets since the privatisation of the disease eradication schemes and he believed this raid was inspired by malice.