Republicans accused of spreading foot and mouth

An SDLP assemblyman has claimed that dissident republicans are smuggling livestock and could be spreading foot and mouth across the border.

John Fee, who lives in south Armagh, says that quarantine regulations are being ignored and agriculture officials and police officers are being threatened.

Mr Fee has been backed in his claims by the Ulster Unionist member for the area, Danny Kennedy.

Sinn Fein assemblyman, Conor Murphy, says that there is no evidence to support Mr Fee's claims and accuses him of smearing the whole south Armagh community as law breakers.