Monaghan farmer William Cranston (40) of Skerrymore, Drumacrib, Castleblayney, was sentenced to six months in prison at a special sitting of the district court in Monaghan town on Wednesday.

Cranston was convicted on 13 charges, which related to the alleged illegal importation of livestock and breaches of EU and Department of Agriculture food and farm regulations, between 1 May and 30 December 2014.

The case was taken by the Minister for Agriculture.

One of the charges was in respect of an alleged failure by Cranston to notify the minister of the movement of livestock along the Monaghan/Armagh border, near his home.

Judge Deirdre Gearty was told that Cranston was previously convicted for having an quantity of an illicit livestock fattening drug on his farm.

Sentences in respect of each of the charges were imposed to run concurrently, from three- to six-month terms of imprisonment.

Appeal recognisances were fixed by the judge after a plea by the farmer.

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