Barry Carr (31) of Boeshill, Pettigo, Co Donegal, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to taking livestock worth €107,300 from a Kilbeggan farm in June 2015.

At a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, Mr Carr pleaded not guilty to two counts of Section 4 theft, that on 24 June/25 June 2015 he allegedly took 75 cattle and 25 sheep from the farm of Niall and Christa Dillon at Cornaher, Co Westmeath.

Mr Carr appeared at Mullingar Circuit Court on Wednesday where he was asked to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges and a jury was sworn in for the case.

The trial is expected to last for a number of days. The theft is regarded as one of the biggest livestock thefts in the history of the State.

Since being charged in June of last year, the defendant has been on bail with conditions attached.

These conditions include that he resides at his given address in Pettigo, Donegal, signs on once a week at his local garda station, gives an undertaking not to travel to Westmeath, provides an independent surety of €10,000 and a €500 personal bond.

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