The scope of an independent review into the controversial culling of 51 cattle in Co. Tyrone, has been set out by the North’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir today (Wednesday, August 12)

Minister Muir has ordered an external investigation into his department’s enforcement operation during which the animals were shot.

The enforcement operation took place in Fivemiletown so that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) could comply with a court deprivation order preventing a herd keeper from keeping animals.

According to the department the herd keeper was given an opportunity to dispose of or sell animals and following that DAERA conducted the enforcement operation on June 29-30 to carry out the deprivation order.

There has been strong criticism - which has been robustly rejected by Minister Muir - of how DAERA handled the operation, earlier this week hundreds of farmers and politicians gathered at Stormont to voice their anger over the enforcement operation.

Cattle cull

According to DAERA, the operation carried out to "humanely destroy the animals" has generated significant public, political and media interest and has also raised questions regarding the planning, implementation and communication of the operation

Minister Muir today again acknowledged "the concerns expressed" from various politicians and farmers about the DAERA operation in Tyrone.

According to the minister the purpose of the external review "is to provide an independent and evidence-based assessment of my department’s planning, decision-making and implementation" of the enforcement operation.

He has confirmed that the former chief veterinary officer for Ireland, Dr. Martin Blake, has been appointed to head up the review.

Dr. Blake had policy and operational leadership responsibilities in the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine when he was the chief veterinary officer.

He also served as Ireland’s delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) from December 2011 to January 2025. 

Under the terms of reference for the review Dr. Blake has been asked to examine whether the court-ordered deprivation operation was properly governed and proportionate, and whether it appropriately balanced legal obligations with animal welfare, public and staff safety, and operational practicality.

The review is also tasked with identifying lessons that can be learned from the enforcement operation and recommending improvements for any future operations.

Scope

The full scope of the external review will examine:

Lessons learned and opportunities for improvement;
Governance and decision-making arrangements;
Legal and procedural compliance;
Consideration of alternative operational approaches;
Operational planning and risk management;
Operational delivery, including dynamic decision-making during the intervention;
Animal welfare considerations;
Staff and public safety arrangements;
Communications and stakeholder engagement;
Management of reputational risks.

According to DAERA, it expects that the review should be completed "by early autumn, or more quickly if possible".