As many as 8,000 sheep which should have been slaughtered in Northern Ireland may have been smuggled here in the past two months, according to reliable veterinary and agricultural sources on both sides of the Border.
Official figures which would reconcile the number of sheep imported on slaughter permits from Britain to Northern Ireland with the actual number of slaughters in the North since January 1st were unavailable in Belfast or Dublin last night.
It was learned, however, that in January, 104 consignments of sheep were imported for slaughter from Britain to the North, involving a possible 10,000 animals. The exact number slaughtered there was unavailable but was thought to be 5,000.
With 567 farms under restrictions in the Republic and nearly 100 more under daily investigation in the North, the true extent of the illegal trade is beginning to emerge.
While the search is being concentrated on possible contact with two loads of sheep imported illegally and which passed through Carlisle market which was contaminated with foot-and-mouth disease, the search for other illegal imports is widening on a daily basis.
Yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Mr Walsh, said he expected the "rigorous and tough" new legislation to regulate the trade in animals to curb rogue dealers.
"A key element is that anyone dealing in livestock will have to retain those livestock for at least 30 days. If they want to trade on within that time it will have to be done under a very strict licensing system," he said.
The Department's chief veterinary officer, Mr Colm Gaynor, said all results received on samples taken from sheep so far were negative, including some from a farm in Dunleer, Co Louth.
They were also examining three more farms in Limerick, Cavan and Tipperary.
However, in Britain, the number of confirmed cases rose to 81 yesterday. In a telephone call, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, expressed anxiety to the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, about his decision not to call for a ban on sporting events in Britain, including Cheltenham.
"The Prime Minister agreed to have the matter looked into," Mr Walsh told Labour TD Mr Willie Penrose during a special debate in the Dail last night. Meanwhile, up to 10,000 meat-processing workers have been laid off so far this week because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation warned that overseas earnings this year could fall by 15 to 20 per cent, amounting to a loss of revenue of £500 million.