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.