Cattle cull probe appeals for information: Investigation into Fivemiletown incident that sparked demands for minister's head wants 'relevant, verifiable' details
An investigation into a controversial cattle cull at the centre of calls for Daera minister Andrew Muir to quit is appealing for information from the public.
The man appointed to head the probe, the Republic of Ireland’s former chief vet Martin Blake, has asked anyone with details relevant to the planning, decision-making or implementation of Daera’s cull in Fivemiletown on June 29 and 30 to submit them.
A dedicated mailbox has been set up, with a Daera spokesperson stating that “relevant, verifiable information” should be emailed to [email protected]
Added the spokesperson: “Information submitted to the mailbox, including any personal data provided, will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements and used only for the purposes of supporting the review.”
The cull of 51 cattle took place after a court issued a disposal order against a farmer who had been disqualified for life from keeping, owning, or participating in the keeping of animals.
However, critics have questioned whether the cull was necessary – as well as the manner in which it was carried out, as people in the area could hear gunshots during the incident.
Last week the Ulster Farmers’ Union plus the DUP, UUP and TUV all issued calls for Mr Muir to resign over the issue, while raising concerns about the investigation as Daera itself set its terms and powers.
According to the department, the probe will assess whether the operation was conducted in accordance with the relevant legal framework, Daera procedures and accepted standards of public administration, and will identify lessons to inform future practice.
Its findings and recommendations will be published as soon as possible, a spokesperson stated.