Cattle killed as ferry truck overturns

IT was reported yesterday that three cattle were killed and others seriously injured when a truck carrying Irish livestock overturned onboard a ship going from England to France during bad weather on Wednesday.

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), Ireland’s leading farm animal welfare group, said it was appalled at the report from Kent against Live Exports (KALE). KALE monitored live animals being exported from the port of Dover, England, to France on the livestock ship MV Fast Navigator.

CIWF said this service is being used by a growing number of Irish cattle exporters as part of the British land-bridge route from Ireland to France.

The report claimed the ship left Dover despite gale warnings and pleas from KALE not to sail in such extreme weather.

KALE reported that some 14 livestock transporters, including at least six Irish vehicles, were loaded onto the Navigator for its sailing to the port of Dunkerque.

Weather conditions in the English Channel became so severe one of the Irish livestock transporters within the hold of the ship actually broke its restraining chains. It fell onto its side, resulting in three cattle being killed and others being seriously injured, according to KALE.

CIWF Ireland director Mary Anne Bartlett said the report was very worrying.

She said: “We believe that there is only one real solution, and that is for exports to be in the form of meat instead of live animals. We call on the Government to do all it can to replace live animal exports from Ireland with a trade in meat exports.”