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| Armagh searches over illegal slaughtered meat claims | Armagh searches over illegal slaughtered meat claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Searches are under way in County Armagh following claims that animals are being slaughtered illegally for food. | Searches are under way in County Armagh following claims that animals are being slaughtered illegally for food. |
| Police, the Department of Agriculture, the Food Standards Agency and Newry and Mourne council are involved. | |
| Maria Jennings, Food Standards Agency, said: "The information we have tells us that meat was being produced illegally, without official hygiene checks. | |
| "We are currently investigating which businesses have been supplied with meat from the plant. | "We are currently investigating which businesses have been supplied with meat from the plant. |
| "We will provide further information once we have it." | "We will provide further information once we have it." |
| Chf Insp Davy Beck said the investigation was at an early stage. He confirmed that the aim was to address agricultural crime and work with partner organisations to protect the safety of the food chain. | Chf Insp Davy Beck said the investigation was at an early stage. He confirmed that the aim was to address agricultural crime and work with partner organisations to protect the safety of the food chain. |
| DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh William Irwin said he had received a number of reports about illegal slaughtering. | |
| "I am pleased to see some action being taken on the issue of illegal abattoirs in south Armagh," he said. | |
| "Obviously, the health risks to the public through contaminated meat produce sourced from illegal plants with no hygiene regulations or safety standards and, most worryingly, no traceability in place, could be catastrophic. | |
| "I think all right thinking people will welcome this operation by the police and other agencies today." |