Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am deeply disappointed with the Minister's response. It appears he is relying on an internal departmental review to deal with the matters I have sought to address. That is not what is required. Internal reviews will not suffice by a long shot. In the case in question, a man's life was not only put into suspension for several years but he faded before my eyes, month after month, as I met him in consultations about his situation. His family have suffered immeasurably. The Minister should not put his head in the sand to ignore the fact that he is not unique and isolated. There are many such people and families involved in farming who have equally suffered because of the very questionable approach and engagement of the SIU. I assure the Minister I have no doubt of the importance and necessity of the role of the SIU to ensure the highest standards of practice, but there is no question in my mind on the evidence that I have seen that there is behaviour beyond acceptance being employed by a certain individual or certain individuals within the SIU, including currently, and it is not acceptable. I am deeply disappointed that the Minister has suggested in his response that the prosecution's case was not sustainable. The subtext of that is open to the interpretation that it was unable to prove its case and there is the very overt suggestion that in some way Mr. Fannin was other than wholly innocent.

I will repeat for the Minister what the judge said at the conclusion of the case:

I want to be very clear. Mr. Fannin leaves this court here today with his reputation fully intact and without any question mark hanging over his integrity.

That was my understanding of Mr. Fannin all along and that is why I took the very appropriate steps of bringing his case to the attention of the highest office in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that of the former Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith and the chief veterinary officer of the day.

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