A Co Monaghan farmer, Mr Howard Cranston of Skerrymore, Castleblayney, was fined £1,000 on each of five charges brought by the Minister for Agriculture, at Castleblayney District Court yesterday for having an implant gun and pellets containing chemicals prohibited under EU regulations and the Animal Remedies Act at his farm.
The court heard that the device, which was for injecting chemical pellets into livestock, was found during a search at a farm.
Mr Gerry Jones, who appeared for the accused, said his client denied ever having used the device or pellets. They were left there prior to the use of the substance being made illegal under EU regulations.
Under cross-examination a Department officer told Judge Flann Brennan there was divided scientific opinion about the use of the substance seized.
He accepted there was no link whatsoever with angel dust and the substance found was legal in the US but prohibited by the EU, although the issue was still under debate.