An external review into an operation by Stormont department officials to shoot 51 cows in Co Tyrone has found they acted lawfully but gave “insufficient consideration” to the impact of dead animals being left in public sight in open fields.
The review into the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) operation in Fivemiletown in June was ordered by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir after concerns were raised by political representatives and farmers about the public nature of the incident.
Lawful but administratively flawed
The review, led by former Irish chief veterinary officer Dr Martin Blake, said there was a “clear difference between the technical competence and the administrative governance of the operation”. It found that from an animal welfare and veterinary science standpoint, culling livestock at pasture using “free bullets was an appropriate method”.
“This avoided the additional fear, panic, and distress that forced yard-gathering and transport would have inflicted upon cattle unaccustomed to such handling,” the review said. However, it added: “While the field operation was delivered in accordance with recognised technical protocols by trained marksmen, the subsequent tracking and accounting of livestock across sites identified a significant operational gap in site clearance protocols.”
Human and community impact overlooked
The review acknowledged the “visual and emotional upset felt by individuals relating to the event”. It said: “Witnessing the sight of animal carcases left exposed in open fields and hearing about farm animals being culled instinctively triggers a sense of disbelief, sadness, and public concern. The operation’s planning gave insufficient consideration to this human and community impact.”
The review found a “post-conviction procedural gap” with a lack of specific guidelines for implementing deprivation orders and divided management oversight of the Humane Slaughter Team. It said a “disconnect in understanding led to carcasses being left in open fields, contributing to much public disquiet”.
Operational complications and recommendations
The report said a “well-intentioned” decision on June 29 to suspend the cull to try to facilitate a private sale of some cows “introduced unintended operational complications”. It said: “The decision introduced further operational and reputational risks which materialised later that evening when efforts by third parties to corral the animals failed in public view and animals escaped onto the roadway.”
The review made 10 recommendations, including changes to how the department determines the best approach to enforcing court orders, how operations are planned and signed off, and how requests to dispose of livestock are handled. It also recommended changes to communications planning for operations that may be visible to the public.
Mr Muir said the events followed a court order after “one of the most shocking and sustained cases of animal cruelty that veterinary officials in the Department have ever had to deal with”. He said: “Whilst the review finds that the operation was lawful, appropriate and sadly necessary from an animal welfare perspective, it’s clear that operational shortcomings existed and planning gave insufficient consideration to the human and community impact.” He added: “The report’s 10 recommendations are accepted in full with regular reporting and independent oversight put in place to ensure improvements are driven and sustained at pace.”
DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said the detail in the report was “damning”. She said: “I have been raising this case with the Minister since the day after the cull. People in Fivemiletown were told to wait for the review. Well, the review is here, and it makes grim reading for Andrew Muir and his department. It finds there was no written policy for carrying out an operation of this kind. Staff were left to rely on custom and practice. Nobody properly considered a phased approach. And when the plan was changed halfway through the first day, nobody stopped to assess the risks. The result was cattle loose on a public road and distressing scenes in full view of local families.”
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Diana Armstrong said: “This was a shambles from start to finish and it is a damning indictment of how that department operates.”
