Shambo case in Wales--appeal by assembly

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6906716.stm

Assembly appeals Shambo cull halt

The high court judge who overturned a slaughter notice for a "sacred" bullock had "substantially" misinterpreted the evidence, the appeal court has heard.

The assembly government is asking them to overturn the ruling of a high court judge that it acted unlawfully in ordering Shambo's slaughter.

Lawyers for the monks at the multi-faith Skanda Vale community said it infringed their human rights.

On Monday, a High Court judge quashed the slaughter decision.

His Honour Judge Gary Hickinbottom had found in favour of the Skanda Vale community in near Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, whose monks consider the six-year-old Frisian cross a sacred animal.

He ruled that the assembly government had "adopted the wrong approach in this case" and had not given enough weight to the rights of the monks, who claim slaughtering Shambo would breach their human rights to practice religion.

Jonathan Crow QC, representing the assembly government at the appeal court hearing in Cardiff on Friday, told the three judges that Judge Hickinbottom's ruling should never have been made.

He said the order for Shambo's slaughter had been made to protect public health and that the surveillance-and-slaughter policy was the way to achieve it.

He also challenged the judge's view that former assembly rural affairs minister Jane Davidson had not taken into consideration the Skanda Vale community's recommendation to isolate the animal and treat it for possible bovine TB.

Religious matters

He said: "In our submission, that is simply not a fair reflection of the decision-making process."

Mr Crow said Ms Davidson had decided it was still necessary to protect public health even though she understood that slaughtering Shambo would interfere with the community's right to practice religion.

Mark Hoskins, representing Skanda Vale, told Lords Justice Pill, Lloyd and Thomas that, for the monks, Shambo's slaughter "would be comparable to killing a human being".

He said Ms Davidson - replaced on Thursday by Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones - had taken expert advice on health issues in the case but not on religious matters.

The three judges have said they will reserve judgment.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has said the high court decision to quash the slaughter order could set back control of bovine TB in Wales, where last year 5,220 cattle were culled under the surveillance-and-slaughter policy .

Online and written petitions in support of Skanda Vale have attracted more than 21,000 names, and a video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen.

Note: Crow and other assembly members have shown themselves to be chopfracks here, as they haven't figured out that the bullock will probably die a natural death (from TB) while the court case goes back and forth (meaning they're practically going to lose anyway, why not cut their loss now).

[Toshtishtash 1]

[almaty 19]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6906716.stm

Assembly appeals Shambo cull halt

The high court judge who overturned a slaughter notice for a "sacred" bullock had "substantially" misinterpreted the evidence, the appeal court has heard.

The assembly government is asking them to overturn the ruling of a high court judge that it acted unlawfully in ordering Shambo's slaughter.

Lawyers for the monks at the multi-faith Skanda Vale community said it infringed their human rights.

On Monday, a High Court judge quashed the slaughter decision.

His Honour Judge Gary Hickinbottom had found in favour of the Skanda Vale community in near Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, whose monks consider the six-year-old Frisian cross a sacred animal.

He ruled that the assembly government had "adopted the wrong approach in this case" and had not given enough weight to the rights of the monks, who claim slaughtering Shambo would breach their human rights to practice religion.

Jonathan Crow QC, representing the assembly government at the appeal court hearing in Cardiff on Friday, told the three judges that Judge Hickinbottom's ruling should never have been made.

He said the order for Shambo's slaughter had been made to protect public health and that the surveillance-and-slaughter policy was the way to achieve it.

He also challenged the judge's view that former assembly rural affairs minister Jane Davidson had not taken into consideration the Skanda Vale community's recommendation to isolate the animal and treat it for possible bovine TB.

Religious matters

He said: "In our submission, that is simply not a fair reflection of the decision-making process."

Mr Crow said Ms Davidson had decided it was still necessary to protect public health even though she understood that slaughtering Shambo would interfere with the community's right to practice religion.

Mark Hoskins, representing Skanda Vale, told Lords Justice Pill, Lloyd and Thomas that, for the monks, Shambo's slaughter "would be comparable to killing a human being".

He said Ms Davidson - replaced on Thursday by Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones - had taken expert advice on health issues in the case but not on religious matters.

The three judges have said they will reserve judgment.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has said the high court decision to quash the slaughter order could set back control of bovine TB in Wales, where last year 5,220 cattle were culled under the surveillance-and-slaughter policy .

Online and written petitions in support of Skanda Vale have attracted more than 21,000 names, and a video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen.

Note: Crow and other assembly members have shown themselves to be chopfracks here, as they haven't figured out that the bullock will probably die a natural death (from TB) while the court case goes back and forth (meaning they're practically going to lose anyway, why not cut their loss now).

those chopf##ks