Second investigation at Roscommon plant

Gardai in Roscommon have initiated a second investigation at the Kepak meat processing plant in Athleague into the alleged delivery of sheep from Northern Ireland after the ban on importation came into place.

Local detectives are working with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Department of Agriculture officials on the separate case. It is understood it came to light during inquiries into the delivery and slaughter of 248 sheep brought from Britain via Northern Ireland at the plant on February 20th - the day foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in the north of England.

It is understood a haulier has been interviewed, and several Kepak staff, in relation to a consignment of sheep delivered to the plant in the early hours of February 22nd. A significant proportion of the load of about 300 came from Northern Ireland, and the haulier has confirmed this without being able to give specific numbers.

Gardai are also following up a reported delivery of another consignment from the North in the early hours of February 23rd. All the animals have been slaughtered and sold, and there is no indication they had any link with Carlisle or the infected sheep in Co Armagh. However, the sheep delivered on February 22nd and slaughtered on February 23rd had no tags.

Supt Padraig Rattigan of Roscommon Garda Station said Kepak was co-operating with the gardai. He said it would appear that some of the load on February 22nd came from the North, but it was "too early" to say whether they had been brought in illegally - the ban on importation of animals and animal products from Britain, including Northern Ireland, to the Republic came into force at midnight on February 21st.

A spokesman for Kepak said the company was "genuinely not aware" of importation of sheep from Northern Ireland after the ban came into effect.

The Mayo superintendent district veterinary officer, Mr John Magee, said the 308 sheep slaughtered as a precautionary measure at Maltpool, Claremorris, on Monday had left the county. Plans to take the carcasses for rendering to the Monery By-Products plant in Co Cavan had to be changed when Monery said it could not accept them. A spokesman for Monery told The Irish Times the plant was working to strict schedules, and could not breach EPA limits or guidelines.