Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878

Power of justice to orderdestruction of unsound meat, &c.

133. If it appears to the justice that any animal carcase meat poultry game flesh fish fruit vegetables corn bread flour milk or butter so seized is diseased or unsound, or unwholesome or unfit for the food of man, he shall condemn the same, and order it to be destroyed or so disposed of as to prevent it from being exposed for sale or used for the food of man; and the person to whom the same belongs or did belong at the time of exposure or conveyance for sale, or in whose possession or on whose premises the same was found, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds for every animal carcase or fish or piece of meat flesh or fish or any poultry or game, or for the parcel of fruit vegetables corn bread or flour, or for the milk or butter so condemned, or at the discretion of the justice, without the infliction of a fine, to imprisonment for a term of not more than three months.

The justice who, under this section, is empowered to convict the offender may be either the justice who may have ordered the article to be disposed of or destroyed, or any other justice having jurisdiction in the place.