WATCH - Fivemiletown cattle cull: UUP leader told number of bullets fired during operation not released 'for security reasons
UUP leader Jon Burrows failed to get his query on how many rounds of ammunition were discharged during the Fivemiletown cattle cull operation answered in the assembly by Agriculture minister Andrew Muir.
Mr Burrows said: “You describe this as a comprehensive review of the incident, but in any firearms operation the precise number of rounds discharged is listed.
"It is very easily established through reconciling of ammunition… so I ask you again how many rounds were discharged during this incident, bearing in mind before you answer flippantly that one round from that calibre of weapon can travel for miles.
"How many rounds were discharged during this incident esdtablished buy your comprehensive review?”
In response Mr Muir said: “You are a former senior police officer and you know the issues in terms of firearms and ammunition”.
He added: “You also know the issue in terms of fair accountability and the importance that people and issues are given proper scrutiny, that is what occurs in this report as set out to you”.
He said that “as said in the report the use of firearms and ammunition complied with the legislative obligations” but “for security reasons I am not going into the detail of what you are asking”.
The report by reland's former chief veterinary officer Dr Martin Blake found that the cull of 51 cattle in fields near Fivemiletown in June was lawful and appropriate – but operational shortcomings existed.
It also found that there was insufficient thought given, when planning the operation, to the visual and emotional upset felt by people who saw carcasses lying overnight exposed in open fields.