A sheep farmer has begun High Court proceedings to have the Minister for Agriculture jailed for allegedly failing to provide him with sufficient grazing lands for his 1,000 sheep and 45 cattle.
Mr Percy Podger, of French Furze, The Curragh, Co Kildare, claims 50 sheep have died from starvation or malnutrition because he has to keep his animals on his 45-acre farm following foot-and-mouth precautions. He submits that an offer of a 15acre field in the centre of Kildare town is inadequate.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Kelly said a motion for the attachment of the Minister could be brought before the court on Thursday. Mr Peter Bland, for Mr Podger, said the proceedings are for the attachment and committal of the Minister.
On June 8th, the Minister was ordered by the High Court to feed hundreds of sheep which he had ordered off The Curragh common grazing lands under the foot-and-mouth precautionary measures. It is submitted Mr Podger and his ancestors have had grazing rights as a statutory commoner of the 5,000 acres at The Curragh.
On June 8th, Mr Justice Murphy granted an interlocutory injunction requiring the Minister to arrange for the provision of alternative land or foodstuffs pending the trial of a full action or until the sheep might be allowed back on The Curragh.
Yesterday, Mr Bland said there had been a failure to comply with the June 8th order.
Mr Podger claims the Minister has no intention of providing him with any means of feeding his stock, despite the previous court order.
He believes the Minister's failure to comply with the order constitutes contempt of court.
The Minister was not represented at yesterday's hearing.