Police were unable to respond as gunfire rang out over 12 hours during a mass shooting of animals on a farm in Co Tyrone, according to a government minister.
More than 50 cattle were shot dead on the farm near Fivemiletown after a court order confiscating the animals was served on their owner after he was convicted of multiple animal welfare charges.
A number of the cows were calving, at least one of the animals was shot on the road in front of onlookers while a bull and calves were seen being chased down and shot, according to eyewitnesses. The carcasses were left in the fields overnight.
Martin Beattie (59) of Shantonagh Road, Fivemiletown, was sentenced in June after earlier pleading guilty to 21 offences linked to animal welfare, animal by-products and veterinary medicines legislation.
The mass slaughter across several fields was witnessed by people who gathered to watch from nearby roads. Trained marksmen with rifles were among those who carried out the cull.
The “deeply upsetting” incident on June 29 has led to a call for an emergency committee recall to question Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir.
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir (Liam McBurney/PA)
Mr Muir, in a letter to Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine, wrote: “A senior official attended the scene to support the operational team, at which time the police were asked for assistance, but due to operational difficulties were unable to attend.” He said a small number of the public attempted to disrupt the operation.
Mr Muir said the police were contacted prior to the operation and “back up” arranged “in case of incident”. The PSNI was contacted for comment.
The minister said the “most appropriate operational plan was selected” and that the actions “delivered a successful outcome” while also noting an “increase in local traffic reflecting wider public interest”.
“This operation was carried out in the field rather than in a yard due to operational difficulties and health and safety considerations that were unique to this particular case and which I am not at liberty to discuss further,” Mr Muir added.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine (Liam McBurney/PA)
At the court hearing in June, it was said 66 remaining cattle on the farm were in a “reasonable state”, with the owner expecting the herd to be taken off him. Four previous culls of animals from the farm were carried out.
Mr Muir said on Sunday he and his chief veterinary officer are taking the concerns expressed about the way the slaughter was carried out “very seriously”.
“To provide assurance and ensure that the circumstances and context in which the actions of veterinary staff took place is more fully understood and any lessons for the future identified, I have now determined that this review must be taken forward by someone outside the department,” the minister said.
Ms Erskine, a DUP MLA, said the “distressing scenes” witnessed “by countless people….were deeply upsetting”.
“While this arose from an animal welfare incident, serious questions remain about the manner in which DAERA carried out the operation,” Ms Erskine said.
“I have received reports of cattle being shot in the neck and left running around fields, animals escaping, and distressed calves left behind.
“What is even more frustrating is that members of the public who tried to intervene because of the inhumane nature of what they were witnessing have instead borne the brunt of the criticism.
“Following representations I have now made to Minister Muir on two occasions, I am calling for a meeting to ensure a full investigation is carried out, accountability is delivered, and lessons are learned.
“This should never happen again.”
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, chair of Stormont’s agriculture committee, said he has written to the department “seeking urgent answers on the reasons for the cull, procedures followed, animal welfare assessment and other issues”.
Committee member Michelle McIlveen has called for it to be convened and for the minister to be questioned on how the day’s events unfolded and how to make sure it does not happen again.