Abattoir cleared in NI foot-and-mouth scare

An abattoir in the North at the centre of a foot-and-mouth alert was cleared today.

Tests carried out at the Institute for Animal Health on pig samples taken from the slaughterhouse in Co Antrim proved negative.

The results were confirmed this afternoon by the North's Department of Agriculture.

Movement restrictions and other conditions were imposed by Chief Veterinary Officer Bert Houston at the abattoir and the premises of origin after foot lesions were detected.

Officials believe the symptoms could have been linked to Swine Vesicular Disease, or foot-and-mouth, which paralysed food production and tourism events across Ireland in 2001.