Staff from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have received threats following what has been described as "inaccurate public commentary" about a department operation in Co Tyrone.

According to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, "misleading" commentary about the DAERA operation - which involved 51 cattle being shot - has resulted in both threats and "significant abuse online" against the department's staff.

The minister today (Thursday, August 6) issued an Urgent Written Statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly about the actions taken by DAERA staff in June on a farm near Fivemiletown in Co Tyrone.

DAERA had previously confirmed that an operation took place in Co. Tyrone in June "to execute a Court Deprivation Order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences".

The minister said it is a matter of public record that an individual had been convicted on June 8, 2026 on the following charges:

13 charges of failure to dispose of an animal carcase;
One charge of failure to comply with an animal by-products notice;
Six charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal;
One charge of failure to produce medicine records.

This individual was also disqualified for life from "keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of animals, being party to an arrangement under which animals are kept, and from transporting or arranging the transport of all animals".

Minister Muir said that after "careful consideration of allavailable options, the department was unfortunately left with noreasonable alternative to comply with the court order, other than to euthanise the animals".

According to the minister 50 cattle were euthanised by theDAERA Humane Slaughter Team on June 29, 2026, with one animal euthanised by the team on the morning of June 30 in Tyrone.

He said the staff in this team "are highly trained, in line with best practice and legislative requirements, and highly respected across these islands for their expertise following procedures that provide for a humane death".

"In fact, they are often called upon to support colleagues in otherjurisdictions," the minister added.

Inaccurate

Minister Muir said today that he has been "alarmed by some of the highly inaccurate and irresponsible commentary surrounding the team’s actions" in Tyrone.

He has appealed to politicians in the North to "unite in condemning the threats and abuse directed at DAERA staff".

Sinn Féin councillor, Eugene McConnell, previously told Agriland that local people were "very distressed" about how the DAERA operation had been carried out.

According to Cllr. McConnell the method in which the cattle were culled was "horrifying".

He said one minute cattle, including a number of calves, "looked healthy, were racing around the field, enjoying the great weather and then they were being shot".

The Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP's) Carla Lockhart has also claimed that the cull of cattle carried out in Co. Tyrone in late June was one of the biggest scandals "ever faced" by DAERA.

"The footage and eyewitness accounts that have emerged since the incident, have left many people shocked, distressed and deeply concerned," she said.

Gunfire

However, according to Minister Muir, officials have outlined "that no animal was chased around fields by DAERA staff, no animal was shot multiple times, nor were there sounds of loud gunfire".

"It is standard practice that silencers are used, an important detail both from an animal welfare and from a public concern perspective.

"Operations were conducted in the most suitable areas available within the fields to minimise exposure to public view and to maximise operational safety.

"Although complete screening from all possible vantage points could not be guaranteed, efforts were made to keep the operation out of public view," the minister also stated.

Minister Muir confirmed that at one stage during the operation "a local farmer approached staff at the scene to indicate a potential interest in purchasing some of the animals".

"The local farmer seeking to purchase some of the animals, another individual and the herd keeper were facilitated to remove the animals from a field into a lorry.

"While those actions delayed the completion of operations, ultimately, DAERA staff had to intervene as the individuals were unable to detain the animals which by that stage were stressed," he added.

Minister Muir has said the Tyrone operation was "a particularly complex and distressing case" and has also acknowledged the concerns voiced by many over the DAERA operation in Fivemiletown.

An external review is now set to be carried out into the DAERA operation.