A FORMER employee of the farming advisory body, Teagasc, has been fined £1,500 after being found guilty of possession of an illegal animal growth promoter and antibiotics.
Patrick O'Dea (51) of Oakfield Estate, Oranmore, Co Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court yesterday to having seven implant cartridges of a veterinary medicine, trenbolone acetate, a prohibited substance, in his home and four 100 ml bottles of the antibiotic oxytetracycline at his business premises in Tuam, on November 12th, 1992.
O'Dea worked with Teagasc for 21 years and is currently a distributor of veterinary products. He retired from Teagasc in 1989. He had £800 worth of the growth promoter and antibiotics when his home and business premises were searched.
He was prosecuted by the Minister for Agriculture for having the prohibited drugs in contravention of EU regulations controlling veterinary medicines and their residues.
Mr Declan Holmes, a Department official, said illegal animal drug promoters had been a problem throughout the State and other prosecutions had helped to raise public awareness of the issue.
Mr Padraig O hUiginn SC, for O'Dea, said these court cases had used the term angel dust, (clenbuterol) but this case did not involve clenbuterol. The products found in his client's possession were widely used in the US and were not considered harmful, he claimed.
Judge John Garavan imposed a £1,000 fine on the first summons and £500 on the second. He ordered O'Dea to pay £180 witnesses expenses.