A senior delegation from the Ulster Farmers’ Union will attend Monday’s meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee to seek answers following an enforcement operation near Fivemiletown which the UFU says has sent shockwaves through Northern Ireland’s farming community.
At the end of June 51 cattle were shot dead on a farm, reportedly on foot of a court order banning the owner from owning animals in the future.
It’s claimed some of the animals were shot in view of members of the public, in a move which had caused severe distress.
UFU President John McLenaghan says they were shocked, angered and deeply distressed by this incident, and the strength of feeling across the UFU membership is unlike anything they have witnessed for many years.
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Statement in full –
A senior delegation from the Ulster Farmers' Union will attend Monday's meeting of
the AERA Committee to support them in seeking clear answers from DAERA officials
following the enforcement operation near Fivemiletown.
A UFU delegation attending on behalf of its membership to seek clear answers,
challenge the decisions taken and ensure the voice of Northern Ireland's farming
community is heard at the highest level.
See questions:
CONTEXT
This event has caused severe distress among the farming community and the wider
public. It is essential that the AERA Committee establish the facts in the context to
the Fivemiletown enforcement operation, including the statuses of the animals,
handling facilities, animal temperament (which is reported to be extremely quiet) and
decisions taken by officials.
1) Please provide a detailed chronology of events following the court order
being issued up to and until the cattle were shot?
2) Did DAERA have an implementation plan in place for the day enforcement
action was taken and what did that plan outline? What position does the
person hold who gave the order to execute the event in the way it unfolded?
3) When were the animals last TB tested, how was this carried out and what
was the temperament and condition of the animals? Were there cattle
handling facilities in place and are the same facilities still at the property?
4) What inquiries did DAERA make with the farmer from the court order until the
day of the event?
5) Was there a risk assessment carried out for both the farmer and the public
involved?
6) Did Minister Muir, the Permanent Secretary and Chief Veterinary Officer have
any prior knowledge, input or issue any orders to DAERA personnel from the
court order and on the day the event took place?
COURT ORDER
It is important to establish what the court order actually said, how the animals were
to be removed from the herd and how much input DAERA had into carrying out the
operation as they did. Urgent clarity is needed around reports of some of the herd
being sold and the rest being shot.
1) It is our understanding that a court order was made in respect of this farm,
what was the exact wording of the court order, and was it accurately
followed? Please could you provide a copy of this court order and confirm
whether the requirements of the court order were complied with in full?
2) What did the order specifically say? Was there a destruction order, and if so,
did DAERA have discretion as to how the animals were to be removed from
the herd? Is the method of euthanasia standard practice when a deprivation
or destruction order is granted.
3) The court issued a lifetime ban, however, it is being reported by sources
close to events that a number of animals were sold to another herd owner.
Can DAERA confirm this? If this was the case, why were the remainder of the
animals shot and not allowed to be sold to another herd owner?
THE EVENT
It is important that the public receive a detailed chronology of events on the day the
incident took place. Clarification is needed on the planning and execution of the
operation, including a full timeline of events, the farmer's involvement, the handling
of the animals, whether the force used was proportionate, the extent of PSNI
involvement, the use of body-worn cameras, animal welfare considerations during
the incident, and the arrangements for the removal of carcasses.
1) Please provide a detailed chronology of events on the day.
2) Was the farmer present at the location the animals were shot and were they
co-operative?
3) Were there any handling facilities at the property? Were the animals shot in
one location?
4) Was the incident excessive? Were silencers used on the guns?
5) What, if any, involvement did the PSNI have in relation to the incident. Please
provide details of the extent of the PSNI involvement including the stage at
which they were first involved. If the PSNI had no involvement, please explain
the reasons for their non-involvement.
6) Were the enforcement team wearing body cameras at any point?
7) When the shooting began, how did the animals react? Can every shot fired be
accounted for?
8) Did any of the herd flee the scene on the day?
9) What plan was in place to deal with the carcasses of the animals on the day?
Was there any carcass removal transportation arranged as part of the
operation on the day?
INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Confidence in the DAERA veterinary division has collapsed amongst the farming
community. It is of the utmost importance that this is restored urgently. This type of
enforcement operation should be suspended while the review is ongoing. The
independent review should be completed by a number of individuals with expertise.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the UFU and the Department should be
established to deal with enforcement operations going forward. It should be
completed in time for the return of the NI Assembly. If wrongdoing has been
committed by DAERA officials, these individuals should face the same legal
consequences as all others who commit animal welfare offences.
1) Has this type of enforcement operation been suspended while the review is
ongoing?
2) If the review finds any wrongdoing to have been committed by his officials, will
the Minister give an assurance that the appropriate action will be taken, which
may include dismissals.
3) Will consideration be given to appointing an expert panel to assist the review
which could include individuals with legal expertise which come from outside
the veterinary industry as well as suitably qualified individuals?
4) Will this review take into account not only this enforcement operation but the
process by which the Department carries out all enforcement operations?
5) Will this review be completed in time for the NI Assembly returning from
summer recess?
