Farmer convicted at Newry Court
Date published:
Stewart McGladdery, (33), of Grovehill Road, Ballinaskeagh, Banbridge was convicted at Newry Court today (Monday 16 October 2023) of two charges of moving animals into a Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) restricted herd.
Mr McGladdery pleaded guilty and was fined £500 plus £15 offender levy.
The case arose following the discovery that Mr McGladdery had moved 42 cattle into his herd in breach of TB restrictions which prohibited the purchase of animals into his herd due to a severe TB breakdown.
A DAERA spokesperson said: “Whilst the majority of herd keepers fully comply with the requirements of the bovine TB eradication scheme, it is vital all infected animals are identified, isolated and removed at the earliest opportunity to minimise risk to other stock in the infected herd and in neighbouring herds.
“Current disease levels continue to remain high, at a considerable cost to the public purse and to individual herd keepers, so it is vital that all stakeholders work together to reduce the disease prevalence.”
Notes to editors:
- Mr McGladdery was convicted of two charges of, being the keeper of an affected animal or herd, without authority of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs moved 42 bovine animals into his herd in contravention of a notice served upon him under Article 6(2) of the Tuberculosis Control Order (Northern Ireland) 1999, contrary to Article 52(1)(a) of the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
- The Tuberculosis Control Order 1999 Article 6 (2) states “where a veterinary inspector knows or suspects that there is a serious risk of the spread of infection, he may by notice served on the keeper of an affected animal or herd prohibit the movement of animals – into the herd; or onto the holding on which the animal is kept, unless such animals are so moved under the authority of an in accordance with the conditions of a licence by the department”. Mr McGladdery breached the conditions of this notice by moving animals into his herd whilst under restriction.
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