A farm in Myshall in County Carlow, believed to have imported sheep from Scotland in January, is tonight being restricted as a precaution against the foot and mouth disease. However, it is not expected that any animals will have to be destroyed. Earlier, initial tests for foot and mouth on sheep from a farm in Dunleer, County Louth, returned a negative result. Eighteen more sheep were slaughtered near the Dromin farm in County Louth as a precaution this afternoon. Another eight cases of the disease were confirmed in Britain today, bringing the total number of cases to 51.
The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, warned that emergency restrictions must remain in place for many weeks yet because the disease is so rampant in Britain. Orangemen in Portadown announced that they have suspended their protest at Drumcree because of the foot and mouth crisis. The Portadown Deputy District Master David Burrows said that the protest, which has lasted for almost 1,000 days, would resume in full when conditions allow.
In the West, Gardaí and Department of Agriculture officials are continuing their investigation into a delivery of suspect lambs to the Kepak lamb factory in Athleague, County Roscommon, last week. Members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation are continuing to examine records relating to the lorry load of lambs, which are believed to have come from the Carlisle area of Britain. The farms of 14 production line workers employed at the factory are still under observation and all movement of animals from the farms remain restricted.
Throughout the West, public buildings, shops and churches have all had disinfectant barriers put in place during the day and many farmers have been responding to the Irish Farmers' Association's call for greater restriction on access to their lands. Earlier, Mr Walsh told an IFA delegation in Dublin that all slaughtering of animals is being suspended from tonight until Tuesday when a new permit system will be introduced.
The Minister of Agriculture in Northern Ireland, Brid Rodgers, has said that further tests on farms in the North had not turned up any new cases of the disease. Ms Rodgers said that the confirmed outbreak in South Armagh was the only such case. Two suspected outbreaks in Castlederg in Tyrone and Ballyclare in Antrim have been given the all clear. Ms Rodgers, who this morning chaired the first meeting of the inter-departmental task force set up to tackle the emergency, said that she was now more optimistic the outbreak could be contained.
Last night, 1,000 pigs were slaughtered and incinerated on a farm in South Armagh, close to where the original outbreak in the North was discovered last week. Officials said that the pigs were destroyed purely as a precautionary measure. As with much of the country, almost all sporting and cultural events in the North have been cancelled, although the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team ignored widespread criticism and refused to cancel their two weekend games, including one against a side from Wales, where foot and mouth has been confirmed. Ms Rodgers appealed to them to think again, saying the team management had clearly failed to recognise the seriousness of the situation.
New cases of the disease were confirmed in Cornwall and Scotland earlier today. It is understood the disease was found in cattle in Cornwall at an abattoir, which was already under restriction for its connection with other outbreaks. A fourth case has been confirmed in Scotland. The outbreak was identified at a farm in Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, said that the British Army should mirror the efforts being made by the Irish Defence Forces to prevent foot and mouth disease entering the Republic. Mr Smith is visiting border checkpoints this afternoon with Lieutenant General Colm Mangan the Army Chief of Staff.
Officers at Wicklow National Park have said that they were disappointed there was a large number of people hill walking this afternoon. The park is advising people to stay away from the hills to minimise the risk of a potential outbreak of the disease.
