Disease restrictions disrupt NI life

Long delays for cross-border traffic because of checks

Foot-and-mouth preventive restrictions are causing major disruption to sporting fixtures, outdoor activities and cross-border traffic in Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that the disease had spread from Britain to Northern Ireland.

A 10-kilometre restriction zone is being enforced around the south Armagh farm at Meigh, where sheep, imported from a market near Carlisle, have been slaughtered.

Farmers around the province are adopting "fortress" measures to try to protect their livestock, disinfecting, and stopping movement on and off their land.

People who live on farms who draw social security benefits have been exempted from travelling to their local office to "sign on".

And the Department of Social Development has said there is a seven-day restriction on their staff visiting farms.

Border restrictions

Fears the disease may spread have affected many other areas of daily life.

Drivers have experienced delays of up to four hours in tailbacks at the border crossings at Newry-Dundalk and Armagh-Monaghan.

The Irish police question motorists at the border

The Irish police are disinfecting buses at the border and are spraying car wheels.

All vehicles are being checked for animal or dairy produce and people are being questioned about whether they have been in contact with farms.

Meanwhile, the sporting programme has been decimated.

Most rugby, and Irish league football and Gaelic Athletic Association fixtures have been postponed.

Schools and under-age rugby, the senior athletics, senior cross-country championship, Irish Hockey Association games, Irish Pony Society meeting at the Maze racecourse a rowing meet have also been cancelled.

Irish horse trainers have also said they will not attend this year's Cheltenham racing festival.

Angling ban

Northern Ireland sports minister Michael McGimpsey announced a ban on fishing in waters under his department's control on Thursday, the first day of the angling season.

Warning signs have also been erected at other lakes and rivers to try to discourage anglers.

Jim Wilson, chairman of Ballynure Angling Club and a local assembly member in County Antrim, said that while anglers were dismayed, they understood the need to protect the farming industry.

Meanwhile, ramblers are being urged to stay out of the countryside by the Countryside Access and Activities Network.

The National Trust has announced it is to close all of its properties to the public.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has also closed its reserves.

The Catholic Scouts of Ireland have banned all activities in the countryside until further notice.

Some schools in rural areas have been temporarily closed.

In the Republic of Ireland, agriculture minister Joe Walsh has called on churches to consider cancelling religious services this Sunday.

Showjumpers quarantined

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland showjumping riders have had their horses impounded on the Spanish show-jumping circuit near Gibraltar.

On Thursday afternoon, the riders were told by the Spanish minister for agriculture that they could not leave the showgrounds until 9 March and that they would not be allowed to bring in any horses from outside the show.

Joanne Sloan from Templepatrick, Harry Marshall from Ballyclare and Ryan Crumley from Londonderry are all competing at the Montemedio show as part of the six week sunshine circuit where some 15 Irish riders and about 30 Irish horses are based.

They said they were concerned because they had a limited supply of their own food for their horses and prefered not to use Spanish hay.