Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir said he has received a death threat over his department's recent cattle cull operation in Co. Tyrone.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) is holding an emergency meeting at Stormont today (Monday, August 10) as fallout from events near Filemiletown in June continue.

Concerns have been raised by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) and politicians over the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) enforcement operation during which 51 cattle were shot.

The department previously said the operation had been carried out "to execute a Court Deprivation Order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences".

Minister Muir has already ordered an external review of the operation be carried out.

The terms of reference for that review are due to be published "shortly".

Court

Minister Muir told the meeting his is "keenly aware of the public interest and concern of what has been reported about these developments and what is a deeply distressing and sensitive issue".

He said that on May 8, 2026, the farmer whose cattle were culled was convicted in court on a range of charges, including six of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, 13 of failure to dispose of an animal carcass, failure to comply with an animal by-products notice and also failure to produce medicine records.

The minister said the farmer was sentenced on June 8 and received a custodial sentence and a fine.

The individual was also disqualified for life from keeping, owning, or participating in the keeping of animals.

Minister Muir said the case arose from "numerous welfare inspections" carried out by DAERA staff between January 20, 2022 and January 30, 2024.

"The situation on this farm that led to the prosecutions was, frankly, grotesque," he said.

The minister said the land was severely poached, housing was poorly maintained, with dirty bedding, and there was insufficient access to feed and work.

"Limited feed that was available was contaminated with urine and dung. A large number of animals were caused unnecessary suffering," the minister has said.

"Approximately 33 animal carcasses and a number of animal bones were found," he added.

Minister Muir said a deprivation order was issued by the court, and action was therefore required.

DAERA had initally given the farmer three weeks to sell, give away, or transfer his stock, and offered advice and guidance.

"Unfortunately, only a small number of animals were moved out of the herd, and so they had to act on the legal order placed upon it by the court," Muir said.

"Normally, dispatch of the cattle away from the farm would be preferable. However, veterinary officials assessed that this was not feasible in this case."

Cattle cull

The minister said the decision to carry out the cull on site was based on several factors including:

The lack of suitable facilities for safely gathering and containing the animals;
The temperament of the animals;
The stress additional handling would create;
Transport-related welfare and safety concerns, including horned cattle;
The practical inability to move all animals from the site.

"On that professional advice from fully qualified veterinarians, the culling of the cattle on site was considered, sadly, the only viable option," he said.

During the operation, a farmer approached expressing interest in purchasing some cattle.

"Operations ceased immediately and it was agreed that some of the cattle could be moved to a lorry for transfer.

"However, the animals were then chased for a period of time in an attempt to gather them, demonstrating the very real challenges of gathering the animals on the site.

"They were then released onto a public road at which stage, conscious of wider public safety, DAERA staff intervened with the help, thankfully, of some local farmers to move the animals off the road where they were then humanely euthanised," Minister Muir said.

DAERA

The committee was told that "51 animals were removed by dispatch by shooting from the disqualified keeper" on June 29 and 30.

"In carrying out such court orders, DAERA veterinary officials will always prioritise the welfare of the animals involved, alongside health and safety implications of the operation," the minister said.

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

"A low, complete screening from all possible vantage points could not be guaranteed."

The minister said police officers who attended the location on the morning of June 29, following advance notice from the department, had "no concerns in relation to the operation".

Minister Muir said he was notified about the operation by officials on the day it took place and "this would involve euthanasia of the remaining animals on the farm".

"Precise details of operations are not normally shared with ministers, nor would it be appropriate for a minister to interfere and start to dictate how such operations should be conducted," he said.

Misinformation

Minister Muir said he has "sought to address the misinformation" about the operation which has been "circulating in recent days".

However, he said "some willfully wish to ignore the facts set out, and have already finalised their conclusions on the matter, rather than waiting on the external review report".

"I would, as minister, urge everyone to take a step back, recognise the complexities and sensitivities of this case, and give the independent external review time and space to examine and report," he said.

Minister Muir added he "fully and completely acknowledge the genuine and legitimate concerns expressed".

"In recognition of these concerns, it has been my view that we need a full and thorough independent examination of the case.

"I have decided that the independent review should be carried out by someone external to the department, the arrangements for conducting it are close to finalisation," he said.

The minister said he wants the review to be "completed promptly by early autumn so that any learning can be identified and implemented quickly".

Death threat

Minister Muir said he wanted to address "the very real impact of some of the misleading and inaccurate reporting and commentary that has surrounded this case".

"The wave of misogynistic, sectarian and homophobic hate, threats and intimidation against both officials and myself is despicable and deeply concerning.

"This is unacceptable at any time and in any department," he said.

The minister said he has discussed the death threat with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

He added that officials are having to consider security measures and personal safety which he said "is unacceptable and seriously troubling".

"It is vital that everyone in this room joins me not just in condemning the threats and the abuse that continues to flow but also in a commitment to root it out from your organisations where and when identified," he said.

AERA Committee chair, Robbie Butler expressed "disgust" at any death threat or intimidation that has taken place.

"Death threats in this country are abysmal, they're a sad legacy of our past and should be rejected by everyone fundamentally," he said

The minister has been joined at today's meeting by Gemma Daly deputy chief veterinary officer at DAERA and Elsie McGarvey senior principal veterinary officer.

Minister Muir said these are the senior officials who are "who are closest to the events that the committee wishes to discuss".