// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
No alternative but to euthanise cattle, says minister
Minister Andrew Muir said veterinary staff advised that it wasn't possible to remove the cattle before they were euthanized
The agriculture minister has claimed there was "no reasonable alternative" to euthanising 51 cattle who were shot dead in a field in County Tyrone at the end of June.
The incident attracted widespread criticism after claims emerged that some of the cattle had been culled by Department of Agriculture staff in view of some members of the public in a field near Fivemiletown.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the agriculture minister said it was "generally preferable" for the animals to be removed from the premises and euthanised remotely.
But Andrew Muir added that in this case it was the assessment of veterinary staff that "this option was simply not possible".
The minister said they used the most suitable areas within the field to "minimise exposure to public view".
Politicians from the Clogher Valley area had previously spoken out about accounts from the public and neighbours who said they were distressed after witnessing some of the cattle being culled.
The Department of Agriculture previously outlined that it was carrying out a court order following a previous animal welfare conviction of the cattle owner.
A spokesperson for Daera said the court directed that the defendant be deprived of the ownership of all farmed animals and ordered their destruction.
In an urgent written statement to the assembly on Thursday, the minister outlined further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident that he said had been provided to him by his officials who attended.