TUV leader Jim Allister voices disappointment at “obfuscation and distraction” in Agriculture minister's statement on cattle cull
TUV leader, Jim Allister KC MP, has voiced his disappointment in the “obfuscation and distraction” which he says hallmarks Minister Muir’s statement on the “disgraceful cull” of cattle in the Clogher Valley.
“The legal position should not be misunderstood,” Mr Allister said.
“What was granted by the court was a ‘Deprivation Order’, not a ‘Destruction Order’.
“The Deprivation Order, designed to deprive the owner of possession of animals, also includes a requirement for ‘disposal’ of the animals, but, again, that does not necessitate destruction. The department at that point had a discretion as to how to dispose of the animals, with destruction being one option, but certainly not the only one. Sale of the animals (as happened with some of them) was a live option and one which, surely, should have been taken as the self-evidently humane option.
“So, when the minister speaks of an order to euthanise the animals, he is plain wrong. There was an order to deprive the owner and dispose of the animals, but no legal compulsion to destroy.
“Section 32(9) of the Welfare of Animals NI Act 2011 is clear:
“..references to disposing of an animal include destroying it.” The key word is ‘include’, which makes it clear it is not the only option.
“The department had a discretion as to what method of disposal to choose. They chose violent destruction when they didn’t need to. In that they were totally wrong.”