27.—(1) It shall not be lawful for any cattle or sheep to be slaughtered for sale for human consumption in Saorstát Eireann in any premises or place whatsoever other than registered slaughtering premises.
(2) Every person who slaughters any cattle or sheep in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds for each animal in respect of which such offence is committed.
(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section it shall be a good defence to such charge for such person to prove that the animal in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was suffering pain caused by injury or disease and was slaughtered in order to avoid the unnecessary suffering to which such animal would have been subjected by bringing it to registered slaughtering premises for slaughter.
