AN appeal by a Co Carlow man against a two-month prison sentence for the movement of restricted cattle succeeded at Carlow Circuit Court yesterday.
Mr George Darcy (48), of Conway Park, Bagenalstown, had been sentenced to a month's jail on each of two summonses, to run consecutively, at a special sitting of Bagenalstown Court last December. He had pleaded guilty to seven summonses involving the illegal movement of cattle between August 4th, 1993, and August 21th, 1993, on rented lands at Kilree, Bagenalstown.
The court heard that clenbuterol had been found in 15 animals belonging to Mr Darcy. It was stated yesterday in court that Mr Darcy was not prepared to say anything to a Department of Agriculture superintending agricultural officer.
Judge O'Leary: "This man moved the cattle and they disappeared. These cattle were eventually eaten - that's the bottom line. There is somebody who has purchased 25 cattle that were the subject of a restraining order and that person has, presumably, killed these cattle, and they entered the food chain.
Judge O'Leary said he was adjourning the case until June. Mr Darcy later disclosed where the cattle had ended up and the judge suspended the first month conviction for 12 months and applied probation for the second custodial conviction. He ordered Mr Darcy, to eater a £50 bond to keep the peace.