Galway wholesaler fined £3,300 for having meat in dirty vans

A WEST of Ireland meat wholesaler who supplies restaurants and hotels was fined £3,300 yesterday for nine offences under the …

A WEST of Ireland meat wholesaler who supplies restaurants and hotels was fined £3,300 yesterday for nine offences under the Food Hygiene regulations.

At a special court in Athlone Judge Mary Fahy said that Liam Maguire, of Birch Grove, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, had failed dismally to run his business in a hygienic manner.

The convictions were in respect of two vans which the Western Health Board claimed were in an unhygienic condition for transporting meat. Judge Fahy heard of an inspection in September 1994 of two vans near the defendant's home, where he had a cold room.

Mr Paul O'Shea, an environ mental health officer, found one van in a very poor state of repair with rusty rear doors which would not shut properly. The van walls were dirtsmeared, and a spare tyre had either mud or manure on it. There was a foul and offensive smell and a pool of water and blood.

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He took 12 lengths of meat which were wrapped in cellophane in a cardboard box. The van's temperature was 10.7 C when it should have been under 3 C.

In the other van he found torn upholstery, a dirtsmeared cab and a sliding door coming off its runner. Inside he found deepfrozen meat thawing out.

An analysis of the meat found it fit for human consumption.

Mr John Hanly, a senior environmental officer, said they had to get the help of the Garda, a tow truck and a locksmith.

Ordering Mr Maguire to pay £2,500 costs and £500 expenses as well as the £3,300 in fines, Judge Fahy noted that he had not been cooperative. "He must know he has an obligation to fulfil certain regulations to his customers, but he has failed dismally to run his business in a hygienic manner".