One of three men questioned by gardai investigating irregularities in cattle tagging is suspected of having been involved in smuggling cattle and sheep from Northern Ireland into the Republic. The man, who is in his late 30s and lives in Co Louth, has allegedly been smuggling livestock across the Border for many years but has escaped prosecution.
It emerged yesterday he was one of three men arrested by Mullingar gardai who have been leading the investigation. Since the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Co Louth members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have assisted local gardai.
It is understood the man was arrested on Wednesday and questioned about the Louth outbreak. He was also questioned about a stolen veterinary stamp, which is used to verify that cattle have been tested for TB.
An associate of the man, who lives in Northern Ireland, has also been questioned by gardai about the movement of large numbers of sheep into the Republic up to the end of February.
A Garda source said yesterday it was hoped the DPP would decide to prefer charges relating to the cattle-tagging irregularities against some of those detained.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture last night said it had almost completed the cull of susceptible animals in the Cooley peninsula.
About 48,000 sheep, 792 cattle, 584 pigs, 230 goats and 277 deer have been slaughtered over a week.
Over the weekend, Army Rangers will cull a number of wild deer and goats located by the Air Corps who flew over the peninsula yesterday.
Blood samples were taken from animals at different locations and sent for analysis to Pirbright in the UK to check for the presence of any antibodies to the virus.
The slaughtered animals have been rendered. The Department said the rendered product is being stored until arrangements are made to export it abroad for incineration.