The Ulster Farmers' Union has called for Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to resign after DAERA officials shot 51 cattle on a County Tyrone farm under a court deprivation order. The UFU questions the independence and scope of an external review led by a single reviewer and has also demanded two senior civil servants step down. DAERA has appointed Dr Martin Blake to carry out an independent review; the department and the FDA union urged patience until that review concludes. The case follows inspections from 2022 that uncovered severe welfare failings and a subsequent conviction in May.
UFU Demands Minister's Resignation After Controversial On-Farm Shooting Of 51 Cattle
There have been calls for the Agriculture Minister, Andrew Muir, to resign [PA Media]
The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has called for Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to resign following public outrage over the on-farm shooting of 51 cattle in County Tyrone in late June. The animals were euthanised after a court-issued deprivation order because the farmer had been convicted of animal welfare offences, but witnesses and farming representatives raised serious concerns about how the operation was conducted.
Union Demands And Concerns Over Review
UFU President John McLenaghan said the union lacked confidence in the independence and scope of an external review commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The UFU criticised the appointment of a single reviewer and called for a panel of experts instead, saying any investigation into an incident of this seriousness must be "demonstrably independent, robust and capable of commanding the confidence of farm families and the wider public."
Who Was Named And Why
Alongside Minister Muir, the UFU asked for the resignations of DAERA Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher. The FDA, the senior civil servants' union, condemned calls to single out officials, saying it was "entirely inappropriate" to demand resignations of civil servants who are duty-bound to serve ministers and cannot publicly defend themselves.
DAERA Response And Independent Review
DAERA said its door remained open to engage with all stakeholders including the UFU and confirmed that an independent external review is already under way. Dr Martin Blake, a former Chief Veterinary Officer for Ireland, has been appointed to examine decision-making, risk assessments and communications connected to the operation. The review will examine records and may include interviews; the minister said it would be "thorough but not prolonged" and expected to conclude by early autumn.
What Happened On The Farm
Inspections dating back to 2022 uncovered grave animal welfare failings on the farm, including 33 carcasses, contaminated feed and emaciated animals. The farmer was convicted in May on multiple charges — including causing unnecessary suffering and failure to dispose of carcasses — and was disqualified from keeping animals for life. A deprivation order issued on 8 June required the animals to be removed from the farmer's ownership; he was given two weeks (later extended by one week) to appeal or rehome or transfer his stock.
Ulster Farmers' Union president John McLenaghan said the UFU "no longer have confidence that the Department can deliver" [BBC]
By the end of the grace period, 21 animals had been removed but 51 remained. On 29 June, DAERA's humane slaughter team arrived to euthanise the remaining animals by shooting. Officials say two of the three areas holding animals had been cleared that day; work in the final area was paused when a local farmer offered to buy some cattle but several animals escaped onto the road, were later herded back and, on veterinary advice, were shot. One animal was disposed of on 30 June and the carcasses were removed that day.
Questions Raised
Witnesses reported seeing and hearing the shootings from nearby public areas, prompting questions about why on-site slaughter was chosen, what weapons and ammunition were used, and whether operational planning adequately protected the public and staff. Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Gemma Daly described some cattle as "semi-feral," and officials said staff had long been concerned about the risks of handling these animals without causing further stress or injury.
Senior Principal Veterinary Officer Elsie McGarvey told the committee the department may have been "technically" in breach of the court-ordered timeline by extending the grace period, and added that roughly half the animals were unsuitable for the food chain while others were too young. DAERA officials said they had been preparing for the possibility of a disqualification and recognised the practical challenges of removing the stock.
Political Fallout
The UFU said its vote demanding resignations was not taken lightly but that confidence in DAERA had been "severely damaged," adding the incident was "one of many" that left farmers feeling the department had lost touch. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has tabled a motion of no confidence in Minister Muir that requires 30 signatures to reach the Assembly floor. Any ministerial change would ultimately be a matter for the minister's party or the minister himself.
Legal Context
A deprivation order can be issued after a conviction for animal welfare offences; it requires the convicted person to be deprived of ownership of the animals and for the animals to be disposed of. Legislation defines "disposal" to include destruction and the court may specify the method or delegate that decision to a person appointed to carry out the order.
Content warning: This article describes the killing of animals and may contain imagery or details that some readers find distressing.
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