Cold meat and poultry store Eurofreeze (Ireland) Ltd has been fined £13,000 after a major probe into its operations, following the seizure and destruction of a consignment of chicken.
The firm was prosecuted when the Food Standards Agency of Northern Ireland discovered breaches in hygenic regulations and healthcare markings.
The company was fined £1000 on each of 13 charges before the court.
The inquiry was launched in November 2005, following the discovery of a large quantity of food stuffs at the store which had been under surveillance by the Food Standards Agency for three months.
257 pallets of meat stored in the licenced meat and poultry store were seized.
Resident Magistrate Austin Kennedy found the company guilty of breaching both the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) regulations 1997 and the Poultry meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat Regulations.
The company was not legally represented in court but was found guilty on tendered evidence.
Drink driver charged with obstructing police
A young Clabby woman who was detected by police drink driving in September last year also faced a charge of obstructing police when her case came before a recent sitting of Fermanagh Magistrates Court.
The Court was told that Emma Georgina Storey (26) from Main Street in Clabby was detected by police driving in an erratic manner in the early hours of 15th September last year, and that Police officers observed a red Volkswagen Polo being driven erratically in the Chanterhill area of Enniskillen.
When they stopped the car, which was being driven by the defendant, the driver's breath smelt of intoxicating liquor and her eyes were glazed. Storey was asked to provide a specimen of breath, which she agreed to do so, but she first asked to use the bathroom of a property in Chanterhill Lodge.
She agreed that an officer would accompany her but as soon as she went into the door she closed it behind her and wouldn't let the officer in.
Police could then see through the window that the defendant was given a can of beer from someone inside the house which she started to drink from. Advised by police to stop doing this, she continued to drink from the beer can.
A reading of 52mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath was later recorded in evidence at Enniskillen Police Station.
Defending, Bernard Corrigan said the defendant was a 26 year old without previous convictions who has been driving for five years.
Sentencing, Resident Magistrate Bernie Kelly imposed a fine of £100 for obstructing police, fined the defendant £200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving while unfit.
Mrs Kelly told the defence solicitor that because of the way his client had handled herself, she was not suitable for the drink drivers course.
DNA on cigarette butt links man to car crime
An Enniskillen man who damaged the interior of a car while attempting to steal it was connected to the crime by DNA evidence that forensic scientists found on a discarded cigarette butt.
Appearing before Fermanagh Magistrates Court, charged with attempting to steal a Vauxhall Astra and, also with damaging a steering column and indicator stalk was Darren Michael Patrick Brown (20) from Loughview Drive.
The court heard that between 31st August and 3rd September last year, the injured party's vehicle was entered, the steering column was broken and wires were tampered with. DNA evidence taken from a discarded cigarette butt inside the car linked the defendant to the car. The court heard the defendant denied the allegations, and that the cost of repairs to the car were approximately £300.
Defending, Des Fahy, BL, told the Court that his client had a good work ethic and he described him as someone who had a contribution to make to society.
Mr Fahy accepted, however, that one of the difficulties with these offences was that they were committed while his client was on probation. Continuing, he said case had been a contested matter. However, his client was found guilty and fully accepted the decision of the court and the ruling of the Magistrate.
"This is not someone who poses a high risk to the public", he commented. Mr Fahy added that his client was willing to make restitution.
Mr Fahy said the car involved in this incident was an old car, 'effectively a runabout', and he told the court he hadn't seen any documentation detailing how much repairs to it would cost.
Sentencing, Resident Magistrate Austin Kennedy told the defendant he had attempted to take and drive away the car, a matter he viewed very seriously.
The defendant was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £175 compensation to the injured party.
