MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ulster farmer returns £ 5.900 cash in overpaid subsidies

An anonymous Northern Ireland farmer has sent an envelope containing £5,900 of cash to the Department of Agriculture (DARD). The money was returned in an envelope because he or she felt they were overpaid in their subsidies, reports the BBC

DARD said the money had been received at its Orchard House building on 4 January. Kenneth Sharkey from the Ulster Farmers' Union said he was proud of the individual. "I would be encouraging all responsible citizens in Northern Ireland to be in a position - if anyone receives money they are not entitled to - then the honest and upright thing to do is to return it," he told the BBC's Talkback programme. "It may have been that this person entered into an arrangement for creative time under an environmental scheme and for some reason couldn't continue and returned the money". "Or, he may have been claiming a capital grant and he didn't finish the job - but we don't know the detail. But that is an honorable thing and something we would encourage farmers to do". A DARD spokesperson said: "It appears that this money had been wrongfully claimed by the individual at an unspecified date in the past for capital works and that the individual now wishes to return it". "Money returned in this way is known as 'conscience money' and will be returned to the public purse in the usual manner". "This is a rare occurrence and it is DARD practice to acknowledge receipt of conscience money through the media". Last year, DARD received £1,100 in conscience money, £10 in 2005-6, and nothing the previous two years.