Garda sources say that they are significantly closer to establishing a link between the outbreak of foot and mouth in Meigh, County Armagh, and the case in Proleek last week. Meanwhile, County Louth anxiously awaits the results from Purbright of a second suspect case. Some 135 sheep have been buried on the farm of Tony Keenan at Riverstown. In the D il earlier, the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, said that he was encouraged and relieved at the results of tests carried out on animals from Wexford, Laois and Waterford.
Preliminary results show they are negative.
Mr Walsh told the D il that in the light of continuing infection in Britain and the Netherlands the Republic of Ireland had to remain in a state of high alert. Meanwhile, the Stormont Agriculture Minister, Brid Rodgers, has said that the cull of 2,500 healthy sheep from the 3km zone around Meigh in South Armagh is underway. Ms Rodgers said that the carcasses would be rendered. The cull had been delayed by talks on a number of issues such as compensation payments. It was postponed after local farmers protested over the proposed use of a local beauty spot as their burial ground.