Government officials have promised a review after around 50 cattle were shot dead in a “disturbing” hours-long mass slaughter in open fields on a farm in Co Tyrone as members of the public gathered to look on.
The government-ordered operation, carried out over 12 hours across several fields in the Clogher Valley area, came on the heels of a court order confiscating the animals from an owner convicted of animal welfare offences.
Concerns have been raised over the public culling of the cattle on the farm near Fivemiletown, with one local representative describing what was witnessed as “disturbing” and questioning whether it could have been carried out in a more humane, and less public, way.
Following the cull, officials will carry out a review “to identify any improvements for future operations”, DAERA said in a statement.
Cattle were culled after owner was convicted of animal welfare offences. PICTURE DAERA
“It was like a Wild West scene — there were cars blocking the roads, there were people standing on ditches watching the marksmen shoot the animals dead in the field,” said local Councillor Eugene McConnell following the mass shooting, part of which he witnessed.
Councillor McConnell added: “The shooting started at 10:00 in the morning and the last animal was shot at 9:50 that evening.”
The operation followed a recent deprivation order handed down by a court, which allowed for the confiscation of the cattle after the owner was convicted of offences linked to the welfare of animals.
Animals can be destroyed if a veterinary surgeon is persuaded it is in the interests of the animal, including to prevent unnecessary suffering and to avoid abandonment.
One eyewitness, who said he worked for the agriculture department for many years, said the cattle were shot on one day over 12 hours. “It was the most disgusting thing I ever witnessed,” he said.
“An operation was conducted by DAERA on 29th June 2026, at a farm near Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone, to execute a court deprivation order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences,” a DAERA spokesperson said.
“The operation was planned in advance and the methodology selected was considered the most appropriate in the circumstances, taking account of animal welfare, staff and public safety, and the views of relevant operational teams, including engagement with PSNI.”
The spokesperson added: “As with any large and sensitive operation, officials responded dynamically to issues arising on the day and will complete a lessons learned review to identify any improvements for future operations.”
Mr McConnell revealed details of the mass shooting at a recent meeting of the full Mid Ulster District Council. He called for steps to be taken “to ensure that there is no repeat” of the “recent harrowing incident” where the cattle were shot dead in full view of members of the public.
The councillor described the animals as “big, healthy, full-grown” cows.
Local councillor reported calves being shot during the cull. File pic
But he added there were also “four young calves that broke loose and made a run for freedom, and they were accompanied by the bull, and the bull got into a nearby forest”.
“The marksmen went after it and shot the four calves and the bull,” the Clogher Valley Sinn Féin representative said.
“My problem with all of this is that surely there must be a more humane, or better, type of situation than the disturbing scenes for the people living locally — and the phone calls that I was getting until I got on site.
“It was like a Wild West scene. It genuinely was something. And I know councillors get everything landed on their doorstep, but the amount of abuse and upset, with people witnessing that, seeing healthy animals shot dead in a field.
“I just feel, going forward, that as a Council there must be some responsibility, in conjunction or engagement with our counterparts or those in official capacity in DAERA.
“There has to be a better way to deal with this — round up the animals, collect the animals, take them off site, or do something. They were all shot and lying over three or four different fields.”