Anger over ‘heavy-handed’ removal of cow

THE Department of Agriculture has been criticised for calling in the gardaí to help them move a dead animal hit with a mysterious cancer at a farm in Askeaton, Co Limerick, where more than 800 animals have died inexplicably in the area in the last decade.

Three department officials were accompanied by two gardaí when removing the cow in the Cappagh/Croagh region.

A spokesperson for the department said the gardaí were called when the farmer failed to allow them take a blood sample from the cow.