Gamekeeper fined £635 for banned pesticide

A GAMEKEEPER has been fined £635 for possessing a banned pesticide.

Cyril McLachlan, 63, admitted at Lanark Sheriff Court that he had carbofuran in his possession, which has been banned since 2001.

The gamekeeper was arrested during an operation by Strathclyde Police, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the Scottish Government in January 2011.

The fine came on the same day the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said figures showed the message was getting through about wildlife crime.

Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (Sasa), the Scottish Government agency, published quarterly statistics highlighting a drop in the incidents of abuse of birds of prey. Such incidents fell from 22 in 2010 to 12 for the same time period in 2011.

An RSPB Scotland spokesman said: “Not only do these illegal chemicals kill birds and other wildlife but they have the potential to poison domestic pets and endanger any people that come into contact with them.”