CMX cow cull due to 'public safety'

The shooting dead of five reportedly “wild and dangerous” cattle amid a bankruptcy dispute in south Monaghan yesterday was done in the “interests of the cattle, public safety of the local community and to prevent the spread of TB in local livestock”, The Anglo-Celt has been told.

 

It is claimed that cattle on the farm near Carrickmacross were “wandering over the roads” leading to “significant concern” for the safety of both the local community and road users in the area.

 

All avenues 'exhausted'

According to Chris Lehane, the court-appointed Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, whose duty it is to recover value from assets of bankrupt estates, “every other possible” avenue was “exhausted” prior to the decision to kill the animals shortly after lunchtime on Tuesday, July 5.

 

The “humane destruction” of the animals is understood to have been carried out by trained members of the Defence Forces and done so “in a controlled environment”. The decision follows established protocol where by members of the Defence Forces can be called into to assist in issues of 'safety' by the Department of Agriculture.

 

'Emergency culling

A spokesperson for the Department of Defence outlined that one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCA) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. They stated: 'An official request was received from An Garda Siochána requesting the assistance of the Defence Forces concerning the emergency culling of animals in the Carrickmaccross area.'

 

Claims that the animals were dangerous and infected with TB seemingly run contrary to early reports that the animals had simply broken free and could have been dealt with by other means, rather than been killed.

 

'Inaccurate information'

Seeking to address “inaccurate information” posted on social media in relation to the culling of cattle on the Monaghan farm, Mr Lehane explained to the Celt: “Over many weeks as part of fulfilling my statutory role I have visited the farm in question and have carried out extensive TB testing in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture. The results of those tests proved positive in the herd, greatly restricting what I could do with the animals.

 

“I have tried to take all the cattle off the farm with experienced cattle assistants, some times successfully, some times not successfully; as the cattle were in large fields and were wild and dangerous.”

 

Producers under TB restriction are not be allowed to buy store animals, until they have had one clear herd test, and its claimed gates on the land in question where the animals were being kept were repeatedly opened involving the cutting of chains. Those reports of cattle roaming are understood to have prompted the Official Assignee and his staff to attend the site in order to round up the cattle and secure the field.

 

'Security issues'

The Celt was told that 15 of the herd concerned had been stolen previously, and the removal of the remaining five cattle was “not possible” due to alleged security issues, of which An Garda Síochána are said to be aware of.

 

“In the interests of the cattle, public safety of the local community and to prevent the spread of TB in local livestock, the decision was very reluctantly made by me following consultation with and approval of, the Department of Agricultural Officials; with whom I have been working closely at all times over many weeks and with cooperation of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces to carry out the cull. It was carried out by trained members of the Defence Forces in a controlled environment,” Mr Lehane concluded.

 

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture confirmed that the culling operation was carried out at the request of the official assignee responsible for the herd, in conjunction with Gardai, the Department and the Defence forces, in keeping with official protocol.

 

“The carcasses were removed and excluded from the food chain,” the spokesperson added.

 

Attempts have been made to contact the farmer involved.