A livestock dealer today became the first person to be jailed in the Irish Republic in connection with last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.
John Walsh (50) originally from Co Wicklow but with an address in Carlisle in Britain, was sentenced to three months by the Dublin District Court, after being convicted on four charges of illegally importing sheep into Ireland last February.
The sheep were from a market in Carlisle, Cumbria, and brought Co Roscommon via Co Armagh without a proper animal health certificate.
The tags on the animals were removed and the sheep were passed off as Irish, with some unloaded at a farm in Meigh Co Armagh, where a foot-and-mouth outbreak was later confirmed. The Garda and Department of Agriculture officials found that Walsh had sold sheep to the Co Roscommon factory using a false name, and was paid €16,500.
Judge Gerard Haughton said the country would be paying for some considerable time for the damage done to tourism, agriculture and sport by the foot-and-mouth crisis.
He said Walsh had known of the risks of spreading the disease, but had done what he did for the selfish reason of making money.
Walsh, who also faces charges relating to tax returns, had spent more than six months in custody ahead of today's proceedings and the judge ordered he should serve a further three months.
PA