Shooting of livestock an absolute disgrace

YOUR coverage of the story of livestock shot by army marksmen in the Liscaroll area of Co Cork, (June 3) made for disturbing reading. These animals were shot because they had not been tagged. The manner in which this slaughter took place is an absolute disgrace on the part of State agencies.

We depend on the Department of Agriculture to protect animals from cruel practices and, on this occasion at least, it failed to meet that basic requirement. It is my understanding that there is in animal welfare legislation a provision which states you cannot kill one domestic animal in the sight of another.

Obviously, the Department of Agriculture did not observe that provision on this occasion.