Five men sent forward to Kilkenny Circuit Court on horse tampering charges

Five men accused of deception and fraudulent practices relating to the tampering of identification passports and microchips of horses presented for slaughter have been served with a book of evidence.
The defendants appeared before Kilkenny District Court on April 24.

Garda John O’Halloran gave evidence that he served a book of evidence in respect of each defendant. 

James Derwin, Auburn, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath faces a total of 12 charges and is accused of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law, deception, possession of a false instrument, using a false instrument and the breach of an EU directive in relation to the regulation of the equine industry. The offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between January 2017 and June 2019 at Dublin Road, Athlone and Emerald Isle Foods Limited, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.

Gda O’Halloran also gave evidence that he served a book of evidence on Derek Nolan of Lisduff, Mount Talbot, Roscommon. 

State solicitor, Gerry Meaney told the court that the book of evidence contains three charges - conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law on dates between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019 and possession of a false instrument and the breach of an EU regulation in relation to the regulation of the equine industry on June 6, 2019 at Mount Talbot, Athleague, Co Roscommon.

Evidence was also heard that a book of evidence was served on James Mee, Drumbore, Cloone, Co Leitrim and that there were two counts -  a deception offence at Emerald Isle Foods Ltd, Thomastown on a date between December 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 and conspiracy to defraud on dates between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019 contained in the book of evidence.

Gda O’Halloran also told the court that he served a book of evidence on Philip O'Neill, Leam, Boyle, Co Roscommon.

 State solicitor, Gerry Meaney said that the book of evidence contained nine charges including  conspiracy to defraud, deception, possession of a false instrument, the use of a false instrument and the breach of an EU regulation in relation to the regulation of the equine industry on dates between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019.

A fifth man, Damien McKeown, Killapogue, Croghan, Boyle, Roscommon appeared before Kilkenny District Court on Monday and was further charged with possession of a false instrument. He was previously charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law and of possession of a false instrument at Emerald Isle Foods in Thomastown on dates between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019. 

A book of evidence was served on the defendant which contained the three counts.

Judge Geraldine Carthy remanded each of the five men  on continuing bail on their own bond of €10,000 on the condition that they did not associate with one another and matters were sent forward to the next sitting of Kilkenny Circuit Court on May 2. 

It is alleged that the five men conspired to defraud Emerald Isle Foods Limited through a scheme to alter the identity of horses contrary to common law.