IFA National Dairy Chairman Tom Phelan said that the brutality shown towards calves in Cherbourg by an individual was despicable. It was as upsetting for farmers as for everybody else.
He said, “Live exports are extremely important for Irish agriculture. They are highly regulated by the Department of Agriculture to ensure animal comfort, which is exactly as it should be. While this incident occurred in Cherbourg, France they were Irish calves. Irish farmers are outraged to see any animal being treated so badly”.
“We understand that the individual in question has been arrested. He should be subject to the full rigours of the law because his actions were wrong and totally unacceptable,” he said.
