Fivemiletown cull report: Minister Andrew Muir says 'I neither authorised nor directed' operation - but it was 'necessary'
Stormont’s farming minister has reiterated his position that a controversial cattle cull near Fivemiletown was necessary – and the conditions on the farm which led to the incident was “grotesque”.
Andrew Muir’s comments came after the publication of an independent external review carried out by Dr Martin Blake into the planning, decision-making and implementation of the operation in which 51 cattle were shot in a field.
The report found that the operation was both lawful and appropriate – but that there had been “insufficient consideration” given to the “visual and emotional upset felt by individuals” who witnessed the event.
The incident sparked political controversy over the summer, and led to calls from political rivals for the minister to stand down. Mr Muir refused, and launched a probe into the events surrounding the cull, led by Dr Blake – Ireland’s former chief veterinary officer.
In a statement the Alliance minister was expected to deliver on Tuesday, Mr Muir said the operation “was undertaken to give effect to a court-ordered deprivation order and lifetime disqualification under the Welfare of Animals (NI) Act 2011 of a keeper convicted of multiple, serious animal welfare offences”.
The minister said: “It was an operation that I neither authorised nor directed”. He continued: “The photos that were published, including of emaciated animals, will never leave my mind. The land was severely poached; housing was poorly maintained, with dirty bedding; and there was insufficient access to feed and water.
“The limited feed that was available was contaminated with urine and dung. A large number of animals were caused unnecessary suffering.
“Approximately 33 animal carcasses and a number of animal bones were found. The individual was rightly disqualified for life from keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of animals; from being party to an arrangement under which animals are kept; and from transporting or arranging the transport of all animals”.
The Daera minister said he shares and acknowledges “the genuine concerns that were expressed at the time”.
“I know that the sight of animal carcases lying in open fields caused genuine distress to local people who came across them and I very much regret that they had to witness those scenes”, he said.
Addressing the report’s findings, the minister said the cull of animals that, to many, would have seemed well kept and in good health happening on open ground visible to local people “did cause distress to those who witnessed” the operation.
However, he pointed out that the report confirms that the animals “were killed humanely by appropriately trained staff” – who had made “significant efforts” to help the keeper dispose of the animals himself.
Minister Muir also acknowledged shortcomings, saying it is “also abundantly clear that the operation itself – particularly the element that took place on the third site – did not go to plan”.
He added: “the review also recognises that there were shortcomings in communications and decision-making”.