Fears of a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northern Ireland were allayed today when a suspect case proved negative.
Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Ms Bríd Rodgers told the Northern Assembly that tests on sheep at a farm near Ballycastle, Co Antrim, showed no sign of the virus.
She said: "I am happy to confirm that the definitive results, which I have just this morning received, are negative."
The news comes as a boost to farmers. So far there have been four reported cases of foot-and-mouth in Northern Ireland.
READ MORE
PA