A west Cork farmer has been released on bail on charges of deliberately introducing a BSE-infected cow into his herd with intent to defraud the Department of Agriculture of £75,000. Mr James Sutton (47) is charged with conspiring with Mr Bryan Wilson and Mr Andrew Wilson and others not before the court to defraud the Department of Agriculture. Mr Sutton, from Kilgariffe House, Clonakilty, is also charged with attempting to defraud the Department by pretending the cow was part of his herd from birth.
He also faces charges of stealing a tractor belonging to Lombard and Ulster and intending to defraud General Accident of £34,000 by pretending the tractor was stolen. Yesterday at Bandon District Court Judge Brendan Wallace remanded Mr Sutton on his own bail of £5,000 and an independent surety of £10,000 to appear at Clonakilty District Court on February 17th.