A Co Kildare farmer was fined £35,000 and given a six-month suspended sentence yesterday on charges relating to the use of illegal growth promoters on cattle. The fine was the second-highest imposed by a court in relation to such offences, following one of £39,000 handed down to a Co Meath farmer last year.
James O'Reilly (64), of St John's, Castledermot, pleaded guilty yesterday at Blessington District Court to 35 of more than 180 charges, the remainder of which were struck out.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said last night: "The very clear message had been sent out to users of illegal substances, and this reinforces that message."
Testing carried out on cattle this year had consistently produced negative results, he said.
The charges against O'Reilly involved 31 animals and covered the administration of a hormone, Nor-Testosterone Decanoate, to cattle as well as the possession and sale of such animals to which the prohibited substance had been administered.
The offences occurred on various dates in April and May 1995.
Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Brian Flaherty, a veterinary surgeon with the Department of Agriculture, said the hormone was a growth-promoting substance which could not be legally used for any purpose.
Mr Flaherty said he had been aware that the defendant had sent 48 cattle to Kildare Chilling on April 4th, 1996, and the following day the carcasses were detained by the Department for testing.
Department staff then visited O'Reilly's herd and read the ear tags on each animal.
A restriction order was then placed on the movement of these animals, with 260 bullocks and 30 cows being fit for slaughter at this time.
On April 9th, 120 animals were slaughtered after the defendant was granted a movement permit from the Department.
Some of these tested positive for the hormone, Mr Flaherty said.
Judge Thomas Ballagh imposed a fine of £1,000 for every offence. He gave O'Reilly three months to pay and said he would face 15 days in prison in the event of default.
O'Reilly had been previously fined £4,000 at Baltinglass District Court on February 29th, 1996, and was due to appeal the decision.
However, his counsel, Mr Eamonn Leahy, said the appeal was now being withdrawn, leaving O'Reilly to pay a total fine of £39,000.