Tobermore transporter convicted at Laganside court

It has emerged that Mr Clark was convicted on:

• One charge of transporting animals, namely six sheep, which were not fit for the journey.
• One charge of failure to present animals and health certificates at the border control post inspection facilities.

Mr Clark received a three-month custodial sentence suspended for two years on charge one, and was fined £750 on charge two plus a £15 offender levy and £133 court costs.

The case arose following intelligence received by Belfast Port staff on 15 November 2024 which suggested that animals may have been present on a lorry carrying hay.

DAERA portal inspection staff at Belfast Port stopped the lorry and examined the load – 60 sheep were present on the top deck of the lorry.

Mr Clark denied he had any animals on board and did not have any import documentation for them.

In relation to six of the animals, it was deemed by a Veterinary Officer that they were not fit for transport, and the transport would have caused them additional injury and suffering.

At the time, Northern Ireland was free from Bluetongue, and the importation of Bluetongue-susceptible species posed a risk to maintaining that disease-free status.

All 60 animals were deemed to have been illegally imported and were seized and destroyed due to the disease risk they posed to Northern Ireland.