ONE of the State's biggest beef fattening farmers had a six-month prison sentence for possessing illegal growth promoters, including angel dust, doubled to 12 months when he appealed against the severity of the original sentence yesterday
Ronald Armitage, of Uskane, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary, is due to go to prison in eight weeks after judge agreed to a stay on executing the warrant to allow him dime to settle his affairs. The judge also ordered him to hand over his passport.
Armitage had been sentenced to six months in prison at Athlone District Court a month ago when he pleaded guilty to 12 charges relating to possessing the drugs, at Uskane and Croghan, Co Roscommon.
Judge Anthony Kennedy yesterday rejected his appeal at the Circuit Court in Athlone, telling him that the series of offences over a 17-month period was "planned, premeditated dishonesty" with no regard for public health.
Armitage, who will be the first farmer to serve a prison sentence for using illegal growth-promoters when the warrant is executed, expressed his shame to the judge for what he had done.
He said that the last four weeks since his conviction in Athlone had been terrible. He had been shunned by local farmers and had brought embarrassment on his wife, their four children and his aged parents.
Armitage, who farms 600 acres, told Judge Kennedy that his membership of the Irish Farmers' Association had been withdrawn.
He admitted that he had purchased the drugs on the black market but did not realise the damage they could do. He said that he purchased the drugs, clenbuterol and hormone cocktails, from those "who call around to people".
Mr Paddy Fogarty, a retired schoolteacher who gave character evidence for Armitage, described him as "a decent, upright and honourable man who was a pillar of charity".
Mr Thomas Kingston, Superintendent of Dublin South Methodist Church, said the conviction had rocked the 200-strong Methodist community in North Tipperary who put a "high premium on integrity".
Judge Kennedy doubled the sentence on Armitage, who had been imprisoned on charges on which six-month sentences would have run concurrently. The judge ruled that two of the four sentences should be consecutive.
He reaffirmed the £12,000 in fines imposed by the District Court