A “cruel” cattle cull in which 51 cows were killed by shooting in county Tyrone has sent shockwaves across Northern Ireland’s farming community, one organisation representing farmers and growers has said.
Hundreds of farmers joined a protest at Stormont today, hitting out at “institutional dysfunctionality” in the Stormont department which carried out the culling.
The incident happened at the end of June, with it now emerging that the cattle were culled across three sites on land near Fivemiletown. The culling was carried out by the North’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
An emergency meeting was held at Stormont on Monday in relation to the culling, which took place over 12 hours across several fields.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said he has been told he had “lost all credibility” after the animal welfare “scandal.”
The committee heard a claim that the public believes that there had been a “shoot to kill” approach over the animals.
Calls were heard for the Minister to step down, as crowds chanted: “Muir must go.”
It has been condemned as a “Wild West style shooting,” with one local councillor describing it as “disturbing.”
The Department said it was carrying out the culling due to a court order after a precious animal welfare conviction of the cattle owner.
A review has now been launched into the incident, after local farmers expressed outrage. Some of the shooting, they have said, was visible to members of the public.
“I’ll be honest, I could not believe it. Should these animals have been shot in the way they were? Most certainly not,” said President of the Ulster Farmers Union, John McLenaghan.
The group representing farmers said it would send a senior delegation to a meeting of the Northern Ireland’s Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee to support them in seeking clear answers from DAERA officials following the enforcement operation.
“Since becoming aware of the incident, the UFU has communicated with members from every sector of agriculture, all expressing deep concern over the manner in which the operation was carried out. In response, the Union has formally met with DAERA officials and called for full transparency and accountability, demanding that the Department’s independent review is completed and published without delay,” the group said.
UFU President John McLenaghan added: “As a union we have been shocked, angered and deeply distressed by this incident. The strength of feeling across our membership is unlike anything we have witnessed for many years, and it is our responsibility as the Ulster Farmers’ Union to ensure those concerns are heard loud and clear.”
“We will be attending the AERA Committee on behalf of our members to ensure MLAs feel supported in scrutinising DAERA about its decisions,” Mr McLeneghan said. “This is not about speculation or assumptions, it is about accountability. Farmers deserve a full explanation of how these decisions were reached, who authorised them and whether every possible alternative was properly considered.”
Mr McLenaghan said that the incident had impacted the general public and the industries wider reputation.
“Public confidence has been badly shaken. It can only begin to be restored through complete honesty, transparency and respect for the farming community. We expect DAERA to answer the legitimate questions that have been raised, and we will continue to pursue this matter until our members have the clarity they deserve,” he added.
Agriculture Minister Mr Muir said that during inspections on the site, conditions on the farm were very very poor.
He told Monday’s meeting: “The photos published included that of emaciated animals (and) shall never leave my mind.
“The situation on this farm that led to the prosecutions was, frankly, grotesque.”
Mr Muir said that the limited animal feed on the site was “contaminated with urine and dung” and that a large number of animals were caused unnecessary suffering.
“Approximately 33 animal carcasses and animal bones were found,” said the Minister.
However, speaking on the steps of Stormont, Democratic Unionist MLA Jonathan Buckley questioned what the Alliance Party Minister knew prior to the action by his Department, asking whether anything was done to stop the action by Mr Muir.
“It’s a Monday morning. Farmers want to be on their farms looking after their cattle, trying to make a living. But today they’re at Stormont, and they’re at Stormont for a reason – because the Department for Agriculture led by the Alliance Party’s Andrew Muir overseen what can only be described as an absolute disgrace, with the slaughter of 51 healthy cattle on a farm in Fivemiletown in an open field.
It was disgraceful. Cattle that were heavily in calf, calves being shot, left for the public to view. There’s nothing short of a scandal within the Department for Agriculture. The department preach animal welfare and do exactly the opposite on the other,” said the politician.
“Today, hundreds of farmers have gathered to express their anger towards Andrew Muir and his Department staff. Now it’s over to this Minister; What did you know about this action prior to it taking place? And more importantly, if you knew, what did you do to stop it?”
Gemma Brolly, Deputy leader of Aontú, was also in attendance at the protest with members of the party.
She thanked Farmers for Action Northern Ireland and Redhouse Holsteins for organising the protest.
“What happened near Fivemiletown is the straw that broke the camel’s back. DAERA regulate farmers within an inch of their livelihood. Had farmers carried out such action they would be prosecuted. Why should this be any different?”
Ms Brolly said that there was “huge discrepancy” in the details given by Mr Muir.
“Mentions of transparency, of sectarianism, of misogyny. Transparency my foot – and the farming community could show Stormont a thing or two. When cattle break out, no one stops to check what side or corner of the community we’re all on,” she added.
“Farmers have had enough.”