A farmer, Patrick Purcell, of Cashel, Co Tipperary, was fined £14,200 yesterday after admitting administering an illegal growth promoter - Clenbuterol, also known as angel dust - to his cattle.
Judge William Hamill said at Cashel District Court that he could not overstate the seriousness of the 26 offences committed by Purcell. The offences were detected when Government veterinary inspectors raided Purcell's two farms.