FOUR men appeared before Kilkenny District Court earlier this week, charged in connection with an ongoing Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe into alleged organised deception and fraudulent practices relating to the tampering of identification passports and microchips of horses presented for slaughter.

All four were remanded on bail bonds of €10,000 each and directed by the bench not to associate with each other before their next court appearance at Kilkenny District Court on March 27th next.

Garda Brian Dunne of the GNBCI told Kilkenny District Court on Monday that he had arrested and charged one of the accused men, James Derwin of Auburn, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath, who 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.

These offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between January 2017 and June 2019 at Emerald Isle Limited, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.

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

Garda Dunne told the court that he had no objection to bail on the condition that the accused would not associate with any of the co-accused in the case - James Mee, Derek Nolan, Philip O’Neill and another named person who was not before the court.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment on the charges.

Judge Geraldine Carthy remanded the defendant on bail on his own bond of €10,000, on the condition he does not associate directly or indirectly with the co-accused men and another named man, to appear before Kilkenny District Court on March 27th for service of the book of evidence in the case.

On bail

Detective Sergeant Michelle Gillick of the GNBCI gave evidence that she had arrested and charged James Mee, Drumnore, Clonee, Co Leitrim with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law and of deception on dates between December 2017 and June 2019 at Emerald Isle Limited, Thomastown. The detective sergeant told the court that she had no objection to bail on the condition that the accused would not associate with any of the co-accused and another named person who was not before the court.

The court heard that the DPP had directed trial on indictment. Judge Carthy remanded the defendant on bail on his own bond of €10,000, on the condition he does not associate directly or indirectly with the co-accused men and another named man, to appear before Kilkenny District Court on March 27th for the service of a book of evidence.

Detective Sergeant Gillick also gave evidence that she had arrested and charged Derek Nolan of Lisduff, Mount Talbot, Co Roscommon with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law, possession of a false instrument and the breach of an EU regulation in relation to the regulation of the equine industry.

The court heard that the DPP had directed trial on indictment. Judge Carthy remanded the defendant on bail on his own bond of €10,000, on the condition he does not associate directly or indirectly with the co-accused men and another named man, to appear before Kilkenny District Court on March 27th for the service of a book of evidence.

Detective Garda Michelle Keogan of the GNBCI gave evidence of arresting and charging Philip O’Neill, Leam, Boyle, Co Roscommon with 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.

The court again heard that the DPP had directed trial on indictment. Judge Carthy remanded the defendant on bail on his own bond of €10,000, on the condition he does not associate directly or indirectly with the co-accused men and another named man, to appear before Kilkenny District Court on March 27th for the service of a book of evidence.