An Irish businessman has agreed to be extradited to the UK over his alleged involvement in egg fraud.
Businessman Pearse Piggott faced three charges when he first appeared before the High Court in Ireland earlier this year following an application by British authorities. The charges were conspiracy to defraud, perverting the course of justice and false accounting. The charge of false accounting has since been withdrawn. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between January 1 2004 and the end of December 2007. Piggott (48), of Ballylennon, Gort, Co Galway, who runs the egg distribution firm Pearse Piggott and Sons, is alleged to have been involved in a multi-million-pound fraud in which eggs were falsely passed off to consumers as free range or organic.
Piggott appeared before the High Court in Dublin again on July 30 when Mr Justice Peart made an order for Piggott’s extradition to the UK. He did so with Piggott’s consent.
The extradition application followed an investigation by Defra into Heart of England Eggs, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Three people here in the UK have been charged as a result of the investigation. Keith Owen, Alan Owen and Carol Owen are all charged with conspiracy to defraud. Keith Owen and Carol Owen are also charged with perverting the course of justice. In addition, Keith Owen faces charges of using a false instrument and false accounting.
Their trial is expected to take place next year. It could last up to three months.
