A man has been charged in Dublin District Court with unlawfully importing sheep to Ireland. Mr John Walsh (50) was refused bail this afternoon.
He was remanded in custody to appear again on May 3rd at 10.30 a.m.
Mr Walsh from Clareen, Birr, Co Offaly, but living in Carlisle, was charged on four counts of unlawful importation of sheep into the State contrary to European Union regulations, after being arrested this morning.
He told the court during his bail hearing that he had returned voluntarily and had been very co-operative with gardaí.
Det Insp John McDermott of the Criminal Assets Bureau said Mr Walsh owed several hundred thousand pounds to the Revenue Commissioners and he believed Mr Walsh would abscond if refused bail.
Earlier this morning Det Sgt John Colgan of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation said Mr Walsh was in an advanced state of moving to Scotland and said his premises in Ireland were up for sale.
Mr Walsh told the court he had property worth £600,000 and he was in the process of selling it to pay his bills.
His brother, Mr Joseph Walsh, told Mr Justice Anderson that Mr Walsh could stay at his home in Dunlavin, Co Wicklow, if bail was granted.
This morning Det Sgt Colgan told the court he charged Mr Walsh in Harcourt Terrace Garda Station. The accused had nothing to say when the charges were put to him.
Mr Walsh is also facing nine charges of submitting incorrect tax returns and one charge of not submitting a tax return.
Det Insp McDermott said the accused made no reply when he put these charges to him.