A controversial culling of cattle in County Tyrone in June has been declared "entirely lawful" following an independent external review.

The North’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs had ordered the review into an enforcement operation carried out by his department in June, during which 51 cattle were shot near Fivemiletown in County Tyrone.

DAERA had previously confirmed that the 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 final report following the review of the operation, carried out by former Irish Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Martin Blake, was published today (Tuesday, November 10).

It found that from an animal welfare perspective the culling method used was "appropriate" but the report also details "a clear difference between the technical competence and the administrative governance of the operation" in Tyrone.

Although the review found that the "field operation" was generally well-planned and delivered by trained marksmen, the intervention had certain "systemic governance vulnerabilities".

The report published today details a number of shortcomings in how the operation was managed, including poor record-keeping, a lack of clear procedures and also calves being missed during the site clearance.

One calf was later discovered on a public road with a neck wound, several days after the operation.

It was also found that preparations by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for the cull operation "did not adequately take into account likely public perception or the emotional impact of the operation on thecommunity".

"Witnessing the sight of animal carcases left exposed in open fields and hearing about farm animals being culled instinctively triggers a sense of disbelief, sadness, and public concern," it was outlined in the report.

Concerns were further heightened locally when DAERA's original plan was changed to allow some animals to be sold privately.

The report said this change introduced additional risks which were not properly assessed.

Those risks materialised on the evening of June 29, when attempts by third parties to round up the animals failed in public view, resulting in animals escaping onto a roadway.

It was also highlighted that the review could not establish why three animals were culled at one site after the decision had been made to suspend the operation to allow a private sale. It said this may have been due to "miscommunication" or an undocumented tactical decision.

DAERA

DAERA's communications response has came under sharp scrutiny, with claims that it was not prepared for the "fast-moving media storm" which erupted around four weeks later, leaving individual staff members exposed to intimidation and hostility.

In his final report Dr. Blake put forward 10 core "operational recommendations" which includes establishing "a more rigorous oversight system" and ensuring any enforcement plans are "collectively evaluated for risk".

There are also changes recommended to:

The process for determining the best approach to enforcing Court Orders in future;
How operations are planned and signed off;
The way requests to dispose of livestock are handled;
The recording of information during complex operations;
The planning of communications for operations that may be visible to the public and cause concern.

Overall the report clearly advises DAERA to "sort out welfare problems before they get out of hand".

Minister Andrew Muir today pledged that DAERA will implement all recommendations set out in the independent review into the culling of 51 cattle.

Minister Muir said: “The events near Fivemiletown came about as a result of one of the most shocking and sustained cases of animal cruelty that veterinary officials in the department have ever had to deal with.

“Whilst the review finds that the operation was lawful, appropriate and sadly necessary from an animal welfare perspective, it’s clear that operational shortcomings existed and planning gave insufficient consideration to the human and community impact".

He also stressed that as minister he "did not authorise or direct the operation".

“The report’s ten recommendations are accepted in full with regular reporting and independent oversight put in place to ensure improvements are driven and sustained at pace," Minister Muir said.