Guilty pleas entered on charge of unauthorised animal remedies

Gay and Annette O'Callaghan and son David, proprietors of Yeomanstown Stud in County Kildare, have pleaded guilty to possession of unauthorised animal remedies at Naas District Court.

The legal action was taken by the Department of Agriculture and the O'Callaghans entered guilty pleas to eight counts against them related to the remedies.

Jim Cosgrove of Cosgrove Pharmacy in Newbridge was also charged and pleaded guilty to ten counts related to the supply of animal remedies, while local vet Alice Bena Hickey entered guilty pleas to two counts but not guilty to a third related to the sale of animal remedies against regulations.

When the case came before Judge Desmond Zaidan in September the court was told the allegations did not involve any suggestion of harm to the horses and that while the substances involved were “significant” the offences were at the minor end of the scale.

A date of next April has been set to hear evidence for sentencing.