Row erupts after fraudulent farmers escape prosecution

A row has arisen following the revelation that several farmers who fraudulently claimed for subsidies during the foot-and-mouth crisis are to escape prosecution thanks to a “technical deficiency” in the law.

Twelve cases of farmers falsely claiming subsidies for the slaughter of non-existent animals had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers has announced that due to limitations in current legislation, the fraud prosecutions will not proceed.

The Minister went on to assure that she would be amending the regulations to cover such legal loopholes so that such instances of fraud could not reoccur.

She added: “I am determined that farmers who claim subsidies to which they are not entitled should be amenable to prosecution. I believe that this is the only fair approach and in the best interests of the vast majority of farmers who are entirely honest.”

Ian Paisley Jnr, a member of the Assembly’s Agricultural Committee, has called for Ms Rodgers to step down, on the grounds that her handling of the issue had been a failure that “makes the industry look bad in the eyes of the world”.

He added: “If she is really serious about taking on the sheep fraudsters she should pass these cases to the fraud squad or direct to the DPP instead of letting them off the hook.”

John Dallat SDLP MLA for East Derry and a member of the Agriculture Committee accused the DUP of a “sectarian witch hunt” against Mrs Rodgers. He said: “Any allegation that the Minister is at fault because of the failure of the British judicial system is made simply to score cheap sectarian points”.

However, offending farmers will still face financial penalties for discrepancies in their subsidy claims.

During the foot-and-mouth culls, 58 farmers in South Armagh were found to be claiming subsidy payments for more animals than they actually possessed – with some having no sheep at all. (CL)