PSNI officers have responded to the report of a protest at a piggery in Antrim. According to a police spokesperson, the protest involved "a number of people at a farm in the Cloughmills area around 4.30am [Tuesday] morning” .
Attending officers spoke with the protesters who left the property shortly before 7am.
There were no reports of any criminal offence during the incident. However, a video released on the vegan Facebook page 'Meat the Victims' shows protesters removing a pig from the farm.
In a statement, the group thanked the activists who “stood in solidarity”, “risked arrest” and “refused to leave without some negotiations being met".
The PSNI has said that enquiries into the incident are ongoing and police continue to work with partner agencies to establish if any criminal offences have occurred.
Documentary
On Tuesday night, a documentary was broadcast on Channel 4 called How to Steal Pigs and Influence People that used wording such as “daring farmyard heists”. The documentary was also an examination into the way vegan activists can exploit online channels to further their agenda.
Concerned
In a joint statement by the National Farmers Union (including the Walsh and Scottish unions) and the Ulster Farmers Union, they said: “We are deeply concerned that Channel 4 is broadcasting this documentary, despite being contacted beforehand by those involved in the farming industry who know only too well the very real impact that this kind of criminal behaviour has on farmers, their families, their business and the health and welfare of their animals.”
They said that the title and trailers for the show “shows that the programme makers regard this illegal activity as trivial and humorous”.
Farms are not only businesses, they are also homes for families
The unions have asked what efforts the broadcaster has gone to to pass information on to the police regarding any criminal behaviour it has either filmed or featured in the programme.
“Farms are not only businesses, they are also homes for families.
“It is quite astonishing that Channel 4 have chosen to commission and broadcast this programme given the dreadful impact that these attacks have on the health and wellbeing of those farmers targeted.”
ICSA
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president Edmond Phelan has also slammed Channel 4 for scheduling the programme.
He said that the programme “incites animal extremists to invade farms and steal pigs apparently on the basis that this would be good for the pigs’ welfare”.
It is also grossly irresponsible in animal welfare terms
He added that it is “a new low for previously respected media”.
He said: “It beggars belief that any responsible media outlet would condone, let alone glamorise, blatant criminal activity. It is also grossly irresponsible in animal welfare terms because the biosecurity breach of invading a pig farm could potentially endanger the health of all pigs on the farm and potentially cause a disastrous disease outbreak.”
Dangerous
“It is one thing for a TV channel to have debate, but it is entirely another for the channel to abuse its influential position to denigrate hard-working farm families in a completely biased and dangerous fashion,” Phelan said.
He then called on Mitsubishi, as major sponsor of Channel 4, to withdraw all funding unless this programme is pulled from air.
Read more
One-third of meat consumed in 2040 could be produced in labs
'On the pig's back' – demand for pork continues to rise
Listen: market opportunity for pig and poultry meat
PSNI officers have responded to the report of a protest at a piggery in Antrim. According to a police spokesperson, the protest involved "a number of people at a farm in the Cloughmills area around 4.30am [Tuesday] morning” .
Attending officers spoke with the protesters who left the property shortly before 7am.
There were no reports of any criminal offence during the incident. However, a video released on the vegan Facebook page 'Meat the Victims' shows protesters removing a pig from the farm.
In a statement, the group thanked the activists who “stood in solidarity”, “risked arrest” and “refused to leave without some negotiations being met".
The PSNI has said that enquiries into the incident are ongoing and police continue to work with partner agencies to establish if any criminal offences have occurred.
Documentary
On Tuesday night, a documentary was broadcast on Channel 4 called How to Steal Pigs and Influence People that used wording such as “daring farmyard heists”. The documentary was also an examination into the way vegan activists can exploit online channels to further their agenda.
Concerned
In a joint statement by the National Farmers Union (including the Walsh and Scottish unions) and the Ulster Farmers Union, they said: “We are deeply concerned that Channel 4 is broadcasting this documentary, despite being contacted beforehand by those involved in the farming industry who know only too well the very real impact that this kind of criminal behaviour has on farmers, their families, their business and the health and welfare of their animals.”
They said that the title and trailers for the show “shows that the programme makers regard this illegal activity as trivial and humorous”.
Farms are not only businesses, they are also homes for families
The unions have asked what efforts the broadcaster has gone to to pass information on to the police regarding any criminal behaviour it has either filmed or featured in the programme.
“Farms are not only businesses, they are also homes for families.
“It is quite astonishing that Channel 4 have chosen to commission and broadcast this programme given the dreadful impact that these attacks have on the health and wellbeing of those farmers targeted.”
ICSA
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president Edmond Phelan has also slammed Channel 4 for scheduling the programme.
He said that the programme “incites animal extremists to invade farms and steal pigs apparently on the basis that this would be good for the pigs’ welfare”.
It is also grossly irresponsible in animal welfare terms
He added that it is “a new low for previously respected media”.
He said: “It beggars belief that any responsible media outlet would condone, let alone glamorise, blatant criminal activity. It is also grossly irresponsible in animal welfare terms because the biosecurity breach of invading a pig farm could potentially endanger the health of all pigs on the farm and potentially cause a disastrous disease outbreak.”
Dangerous
“It is one thing for a TV channel to have debate, but it is entirely another for the channel to abuse its influential position to denigrate hard-working farm families in a completely biased and dangerous fashion,” Phelan said.
He then called on Mitsubishi, as major sponsor of Channel 4, to withdraw all funding unless this programme is pulled from air.
Read more
One-third of meat consumed in 2040 could be produced in labs
'On the pig's back' – demand for pork continues to rise
Listen: market opportunity for pig and poultry meat
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