Diana Armstrong MLA demands answers from DAERA Minister over Fivemiletown animal cull

Speaking today, Armstrong said: "I have been contacted by a large number of constituents who are utterly shocked and distressed by what they witnessed near Fivemiletown. Animals were shot in an open field, in full view of the public, with cattle visibly panicking and running at the sound of gunfire. This is an inhumane way to treat any animal, and it has caused real and lasting distress to those who witnessed it, many of whom come from farming backgrounds themselves.

"Many of my supporters are from farming families who already face significant pressures in their day-to-day work. To see a regulated operation carried out in this way, in a public field rather than a controlled environment such as a slaughterhouse, is simply not acceptable.

"It is also completely unacceptable for healthy animals to be culled in this manner. If constituents' accounts are correct and a number of these animals were in good health, then serious and immediate questions must be asked as to why they were shot at all, let alone in such a public and distressing way. There can be no justification for the destruction of healthy animals without full transparency and rigorous scrutiny of the decision-making behind it.

"Serious questions must now be answered by Minister Muir. What was the rationale for carrying out this operation in an open field rather than a slaughterhouse or other controlled setting? Who authorised this approach – was it DAERA officials or a third-party contractor, and what oversight was in place?

"Constituents have told me that a number of animals appeared to be in good health. Were bovine tags checked prior to the cull? Were all animals confirmed as present on the DAERA system? When were these animals last tested for TB, and what were the results?

"Farmers and the wider public deserve full transparency. I am calling on Minister Muir to publish a complete account of this operation, including the decision-making process, the welfare safeguards that were or were not in place, and confirmation of the health and testing status of every animal involved.

"This must never be allowed to happen again in this manner. I will be pursuing this matter directly with the Minister and expect a full and honest response," Armstrong concluded.