The case of two live lambs being found in the boot of a car stopped by gardaÍ in Co Kildare has been finalised. The five men involved – who worked in a meat factory – were charged and brought to court. They pleaded guilty and were given an adult caution.

The lambs belonged to Carbury farmer Cecil Potterton, who was roused from his bed by gardaí after midnight in mid-July. He was asked to come to examine the lambs, which the gardaí suspected belonged to him. Cecil was sceptical at first, but discovered the animals were indeed his pedigree lambs – they were carrying his breeding ear tags.

Introduced in 2006, the Adult Caution Scheme can be applied to first-time offenders who acknowledge their offence, which must itself be of a minor nature.

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It can be used in the case of theft where the value of the property taken does not exceed €1,000.

Cecil Potterton has been asked by neighbouring farmers about the outcome of the case. Not surprisingly, many feel the adult caution was lenient.

Persons receiving the caution are warned any repeat is likely to result in prosecution.

“You get only one go of an adult caution,” one garda noted to The Dealer.