This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6906716.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Assembly appeals Shambo cull halt Shambo cull decision within days
(about 2 hours later)
The high court judge who overturned a slaughter notice for a "sacred" bullock had "substantially" misinterpreted the evidence, the appeal court has heard. A decision will be announced on Monday on whether a Carmarthenshire "sacred" bullock which tested positive for bovine TB should be culled .
The assembly government is asking them to overturn the ruling of a high court judge that it acted unlawfully in ordering Shambo's slaughter. On Friday, the Court of Appeal was told the High Court judge who overturned a slaughter notice on Shambo this week had misinterpreted evidence.
Lawyers for the monks at the multi-faith Skanda Vale community said it infringed their human rights. That submission came from the Welsh Assembly Government, which wants the High Court ruling reversed.
On Monday, a High Court judge quashed the slaughter decision. The multi-faith community which owns Shambo opposes the slaughter notice.
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. The Skanda Vale Community near Llanpumsaint had gone to court to appeal against the assembly government's slaughter notice, and last Monday His Honour Judge Gary Hickinbottom had found in favour of the monks who consider the six-year-old Friesian cross a sacred animal.
"In our submission, that is simply not a fair reflection of the decision-making process Jonathan Crow QC, for the assembly government In our submission, that is simply not a fair reflection of the decision-making process Jonathan Crow QC, for the assembly government
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. Judge Hickinbottom had ruled 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 practise 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.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 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. 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 mattersReligious matters
He said: "In our submission, that is simply not a fair reflection of the decision-making process."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. 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 practise 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".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. He said Ms Davidson - who was replaced as the minister 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 reserved judgement will be handed down at 1500 BST on Monday.
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 .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.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.