Animal on O’Keefe farm tests positive for BSE

An animal on the farm of former Junior Minister Ned O’Keefe has tested positive for BSE.

The Department of Agriculture has not revealed how the case was detected, but it has launched an investigation after receiving positive BSE test results this afternoon.

The animal in question is believed to be a seven-year-old cow.

The Irish Farmers Association has said farmers in the area should not be overly concerned.

Mr O’Keefe was forced to resign as Junior Agriculture Minister earlier this year after he voted against a proposed ban on meat and bonemeal while failing to mention that his family farm had a special licence to feed this meal to pigs.