Hundreds rally at Stormont over destruction of 51 cattle

Hundreds of farmers gathered outside Stormont earlier today over the destruction of 51 cattle in Northern Ireland, as the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) demanded independent scrutiny of DAERA’s actions.

The demonstration on Monday 10 August coincided with an extraordinary meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee examining the controversial enforcement operation.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) Humane Slaughter Team destroyed 50 cattle on 29 June and a further animal the following morning.

DAERA said the County Tyrone operation, which took place near Fivemiletown, was carried out “to execute a Court Deprivation Order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences”.

The court order followed convictions for animal welfare and disposal offences, with the keeper disqualified for life.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said the department had considered other options before proceeding.

He said that “after careful consideration of all available options, the department was unfortunately left with no reasonable alternative to comply with the court order, other than to euthanise the animals”.

DAERA said the operation had been planned in advance, with animal welfare, staff safety and the views of operational teams taken into account.

The department also engaged with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

However, the way the operation was carried out has triggered widespread anger within the farming community and raised questions over how the decision was reached.

Muir has since ordered an external review, confirming that it will be conducted by someone from outside DAERA.

“I fully appreciate the concerns expressed following the euthanasia of cattle near Fivemiletown, undertaken following a court order,” he said.

“I want to reassure everyone that I and my chief veterinary officer take those concerns very seriously.”

The review will examine the circumstances and context surrounding the operation and identify lessons for future enforcement action.

Its terms of reference are expected to be published, with the findings and recommendations also due to be made public and shared with the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), however, says an external reviewer alone is not enough and is calling for an independent expert panel to support and scrutinise the process.

It wants specialists from outside DAERA, including experts in agriculture, veterinary medicine, animal welfare and law, involved to ensure the review is independent, objective and commands confidence.

The union has previously issued a vote of no confidence in DAERA and wants the AERA Committee to play a central oversight role throughout the review process.

UFU president John McLenaghan said: “The events that unfolded near Fivemiletown have shaken confidence in DAERA to its core.”

He said farmers across Northern Ireland wanted answers over how the operation was authorised, whether alternatives were exhausted and whether the response was proportionate.

“The farming community will not regain confidence if the Department is perceived to be investigating itself,” McLenaghan said.

“This review must be demonstrably independent, transparent and robust. It must command the confidence of farmers and the wider public alike.”

The UFU said the dispute now went beyond a single enforcement operation and raised broader questions about confidence in animal health and welfare regulation.

McLenaghan said farmers must be able to trust that enforcement decisions are proportionate, transparent and professionally carried out.

“This is about far more than one enforcement operation. It is about confidence in the systems that regulate animal health and welfare across Northern Ireland,” he said.

The union is also demanding accountability if the review uncovers failings, poor judgement or wrongdoing.

“If the review identifies failings, poor judgement or wrongdoing, those responsible must be held accountable,” McLenaghan said.

“Accountability cannot stop at identifying what went wrong. It must include taking appropriate action where standards have not been met.”

McLenaghan warned that the session could not become a procedural exercise. “Monday cannot become a box-ticking exercise. It must be a genuine examination of what happened, why it happened and what must now be actioned,” he said.

“Farmers expect searching questions, complete transparency and honest answers."