People ‘in fear over farm check tactics’

Businesses have been “devastated” and family life upset by the controversial tactics of Agriculture Department inspectors, the Dáil’s financial watchdog has heard.

The chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, John McGuinness demanded detailed responses from the department over allegations that inspectors had “pushed around” a pregnant woman, damaged a car, and approached an intellectually challenged son of a person they were investigating.

Mr McGuinness said some people were so in “fear” of the inspectors they were afraid to tell the PAC about what they had gone through.