The Department of Agriculture have discovered  of what is believed to be the illegal animal growth promoter angel dust on a farm in Ballybay. A small number of cattle that were on the farm when it was raided by gardaí and officers from the department’s special investigations unit have been tested for the banned substance.

It was once common to find angel dust being used by beef farmers and it cast a dark shadow over the industry for a number of years.  it is 12 years since it was last detected in the Republic.

Tests are routinely carried out at slaughtering yards for angel dust and other illegal growth substances, and the use of angel dust appeared to have ended.  Angel dust was usually found in powder form but this discovery is what appears to be it in liquid form.  There are also concerns that if the substance is confirmed as angel dust, it may have been given to animals that have already been slaughtered and if that is the case the chances are they have already been eaten by unsuspecting members of the public.

It was also suspected that the Provisional IRA used to manufacture and sell it.

However, the discovery of bottles of the substance on a farm in Monaghan on Thursday morning has sent a wave of concern through the agriculture industry.

Meanwhile, Customs sources confirmed that the service found almost €30,000 in cash and cheques linked to the discovery of the diesel-laundering plant found in the same location as the angel dust.

In the Monaghan raid Customs officers seized six vehicles, including what appeared to be a grain lorry but in fact had a tanker of laundered fuel concealed under the tarpaulin.

It is believed that the gang behind the diesel-laundering plant were planning to travel to Poland and from there arrange to import from Russia another consignment of bleaching earth to be used in yet more illegal laundering of fuel here.

Two men arrested by gardaí and taken to Carrickmacross Garda station for questioning about the diesel laundering have been released and gardaí confirmed that a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions