Northern Ireland authorities shoot 51 cows to enforce court order

Authorities in Northern Ireland have sparked widespread outrage after shooting 51 cows on a pasture near Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, to enforce a court order.

The farm owner had previously been convicted in June for violating animal welfare regulations and rules regarding the movement and registration of livestock. The court had ordered him to dispose of the herd within three weeks; however, upon inspection, veterinary services and police found the farmer had failed to comply.

The enforcement action turned chaotic when the cattle panicked and scattered during the shooting. Although a local farmer attempted to intervene by offering to purchase the herd and providing a truck, the animals could not be gathered and loaded. The incident has led to calls from the Ulster Farmers' Union and local politicians for an independent investigation into the actions of the veterinary services.