Gardai bid to trace origin of wandering cows

Gardai were today attempting to trace the origin of a herd of unidentified cattle found roaming in Co Tipperary.

One theory being investigated was that the 13 Friesians had been smuggled into the area in a breach of restrictions imposed by the Dublin government in a bid to avoid the spread of foot-and-mouth.

The animals were spotted at a roadside in Tipperary’s Glen of Aherlow beauty spot. They were found to have had their ear tag identifications removed.

Because of problems in tracking down the source of the wandering cattle, all of them had to be slaughtered in line with the government’s foot-and-mouth policy.

A man was being questioned by detectives in Co Tipperary about a breach of animal movement orders, but police said it was not clear whether his arrest was linked to the discovery of the cattle.

Junior Agriculture Minister Noel Davern, whose parliamentary constituency includes Tipperary, said he was ‘‘angry and annoyed’’ at the incident as it meant that cattle of clearly dubious origin were being moved around at a time when a foot-and-mouth alert was continuing.

He added: ‘‘Obviously the checking system was getting too hot for somebody, and these animals were dumped, regardless of any care for their welfare, and endangering the local community and the national economy.’’

The minister appealed for information on the dumping of the Friesians ‘‘so that we can root out these cowboys and get them out of our society’’.

He said: ‘‘These cattle could have been brought from anywhere in a lorry. The whole country is behind our efforts to halt foot-and-mouth, and still there are people who want to threaten our economy.’’

Mr Davern also reported the discovery of a number of dead cows in a forest in another part of Co Tipperary.

He commented: ‘‘They had starved to death and their ear tags had been removed. To me the person who allowed that to happen should not be allowed to farm.’’

He warned that infringements of ear tag regulations carried penalties of IR£100,000 fines and/or five years jail, declaring: ‘‘It is beginning to work and panic is setting in among these people.’’

The restrictions and other stringent controls were introduced by the Dublin government at the start of the crisis over foot-and-mouth.

So far, only one case of the disease has been confirmed in the Republic, in Co Louth, close to the border with Northern Ireland.