FIVE MEN have been arrested in a cross-Border operation by gardaí and PSNI officers investigating the 2008 pork contamination that cost the Irish industry an estimated €100 million.
Gardaí arrested a man in his 50s in the Monaghan area yesterday morning while at about the same time, PSNI officers detained three men at separate locations in Co Tyrone and one man in Co Armagh.
The men, who are aged (25), (27), (29) and (43), were last night being questioned at Antrim Police station while the man arrested in the Republic was questioned in Monaghan Garda station.
The arrests follow from the Garda investigation into the outbreak of pork contamination in December 2008 which forced the recall of Irish pork produce from supermarkets and stores in Ireland, Britain, European Union countries and other world markets. It was estimated that contaminated products were exported to 25 countries.
The forced recall was prompted by the discovery that meal on a number of Irish farms, including a small number from Northern Ireland, was found to have dioxins between 80 and 200 times more than the safety limit.
The discovery was made following a routine testing of pigs which indicated the presence in the animal feed of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which were banned in the Republic since the 1970s.
Long-term exposure to dioxins can have serious health effects, including the risk of causing cancers and damaging immune and reproductive systems. It was stated however in 2008 that the recall ensured consumers only had minimum exposure to risk.
Consumers and retailers in the Republic were warned at the time to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since September 1st, 2008. These included bacon, ham, sausages, pudding and pizzas with ham topping.
The initial focus of the investigation was on Millstream Power Recycling Ltd, Bunclody, Co Wexford, which supplied the meal. It was found that the feed was contaminated with oil which Millstream said was used in a machine that dried the meal.
Further investigation pointed to the tainted oil originating from O’Neill Fuels, Annaghmore Hill, Coalisland, Co Tyrone. That company denied any responsibility but last month the company was ordered to pay Millstream Power Recycling Ltd €38.7 million as a result of the contamination.
The PSNI said the investigation had now entered a new linked phase with the arrests on both sides of the Border.
The industry is worth about €370 million, employing 7,000 people.
DUP agriculture spokesman Stephen Moutray MLA said that anyone involved in the contamination “must face the full rigour of the law given the damage caused to our agricultural industry”.