The farmer was sentenced for offences relating to multiple counts of importing and exporting cattle without appropriate health certificates – as well as one instance in which he was stopped while transporting two cows that did not have proper ear tags.

William Cranston, a married father of three from Drumnacrib, Skerrymore, Castleblayney, had represented himself in the lengthy hearing in which 19 witnesses, including three gardaÍ and veterinary officials linked to the Department of Agriculture, had given evidence.

Cranston was convicted by Judge Deidre Gearty in relation to charges of 18 sample counts of importing cattle from Northern Ireland to the Republic between 8 January 2013 and 24 January 2013, contrary to Regulation 4 (4) (ii) in EU Communities Trade in Bovine Animals, to 19 similar counts between 28 November 2013 and 20 December 2013, and to 19 more such offences between 20 December 2013 and 3 July 2014 (56 counts in total).

The animals were discovered in a trailer attached to a jeep being driven by Cranston at Emyvale, Co Monaghan

He was also convicted of having control of two cows with no ear tags on 9 April 2014, in respect of which evidence was given by a garda sergeant of how the animals were discovered in a trailer attached to a jeep being driven by Mr Cranston at Emyvale, Co Monaghan, at 1.25am on that date. The defendant had stated that he bought the animals from a person in Donegal on that occasion and that he thought there were ear tags on them.

Growth promoters

Further convictions were imposed in relation to three counts of being in possession of illegal growth promoters that were found on his farm at Skerrymore on 27 May 2014, contrary to EU Communities Animal Remedies Regulations 2001. These consisted of 86 bottles of Trioxyl LA 100ml, nine 100ml bottles of Pentomycin, and 40 bottles of Tylovet 20%.

TB issue

It was put to the defendant by Ms Geri Silke BL, prosecuting, that the laws relating to the movement of animals were in place to protect the public. In that regard, she also put to him that a total of 136 cattle in his herd at Altnamacken, Co Armagh, had been struck down with TB in examinations carried out on various dates between November 2013 and March 2016, and that his actions regarding the movement of cattle was putting neighbouring herds at risk.

She was also convicting him in relation to being in possession of illegal animal remedies

In passing sentence, Judge Gearty said she was satisfied that Cranston had been in breach of regulations regarding the necessity to have certificates for the import and export of animals. She indicated that she was also convicting him in relation to being in possession of illegal animal remedies.

Asking the judge to be as lenient as she could, Mr Cranston, who had been refused legal aid and represented himself, said some of his Single Farm Payments had been stopped and that 200 cattle had already been seized from him on both sides of the border.

Judge Gearty fined him €250 in relation to 10 counts of importing animals from Northern Ireland to the Republic in January 2013 (coming to €2,500 in total), while for the similar offences in November and December of that year, she imposed fines of €500 each on 10 of the counts (€5,000 in total).

For having the two animals with no ear tags at Emyvale on 9 April 2014, a further fine of €500 was handed down. This brought the total in fines to €8,000, with five months allowed for payment.

In relation to similar imports of animals between December 2013 and July 2014, a two-month prison sentence was given on each of the 19 counts, but suspended for two years in Mr Cranston’s own bond of €500. That meant it was up to him not to get another conviction within that time if he wanted to avoid having the prison term activated, the judge advised Mr Cranston.

While she was imposing a conviction for the use of the prohibited animal remedies, Judge Gearty said she was ordering a probation report in relation to the accused’s suitability for community service. If deemed suitable, he was to carry out 200 hours’ service in lieu of five months of imprisonment on each count.

That aspect of the case was adjourned to Monaghan District Court on 6 March next to allow the probation report be prepared.

Further charges which had not been reached during the lengthy hearing, including 20 counts of importing cattle without certificates on dates between 9 August and 14 September 2014, were also adjourned to that date.

The judge also acceded to Ms Silke in ordering that the animal remedies found on the defendant’s property be forfeited to the State.

Mr Cranston was also directed to make a further contribution of €2,500 towards the prosecution’s costs in this case (thereby bringing the monies he was ordered to pay to €10,500 when considered along with the fines already imposed).

Recognisances in the event of an appeal were set at €1,000 in his own bond, €500 of which was to be lodged in cash.

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