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/6912767.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Monks see 'end' of Shambo fight | Monks see 'end' of Shambo fight |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Monks at a Carmarthenshire multi-faith community say they are "pretty much at the end of the road" in their legal fight to save Shambo the bullock. | Monks at a Carmarthenshire multi-faith community say they are "pretty much at the end of the road" in their legal fight to save Shambo the bullock. |
| The Friesian at Skanda Vale, which has tested positive for bovine TB, is again facing slaughter after an appeal court overturned a ruling to block the order. | The Friesian at Skanda Vale, which has tested positive for bovine TB, is again facing slaughter after an appeal court overturned a ruling to block the order. |
| Brother Alex, a senior monk, said there was only a "slim chance" they would petition the House of Lords. | Brother Alex, a senior monk, said there was only a "slim chance" they would petition the House of Lords. |
| The appeal court's ruling has been welcomed by farmers' union NFU Cymru. | |
| The Welsh Assembly Government has won its appeal against a high court judge's decision last week to block two slaughter orders. | The Welsh Assembly Government has won its appeal against a high court judge's decision last week to block two slaughter orders. |
| The assembly government said there was no timetable for Shambo's slaughter, but it wanted to minimise distress to the animal and its carers. | The assembly government said there was no timetable for Shambo's slaughter, but it wanted to minimise distress to the animal and its carers. |
| Judge Gary Hickinbottom had said the orders had failed to give enough weight to the rights of the monks. | Judge Gary Hickinbottom had said the orders had failed to give enough weight to the rights of the monks. |
| The longer this animal lives, the longer the [bovine TB] reservoir will be in the heartland of livestock-producing areas of Wales Dai Davies, NFU Cymru | The longer this animal lives, the longer the [bovine TB] reservoir will be in the heartland of livestock-producing areas of Wales Dai Davies, NFU Cymru |
| But the assembly government's appeal was upheld by the appeal court in London on Monday. | But the assembly government's appeal was upheld by the appeal court in London on Monday. |
| Lord Justice Pill said former Rural Affairs Minister Jane Davidson acted lawfully when she refused to make an exception for Shambo as a sacred bullock. | Lord Justice Pill said former Rural Affairs Minister Jane Davidson acted lawfully when she refused to make an exception for Shambo as a sacred bullock. |
| He said the decision was justified even though Shambo's slaughter would be considered a sacrilegious act by the community. | He said the decision was justified even though Shambo's slaughter would be considered a sacrilegious act by the community. |
| Brother Alex told BBC Radio Wales the community had faced the problem of trying to convince the courts that "untested and untried" methods of dealing with possible bovine TB would be effective. | Brother Alex told BBC Radio Wales the community had faced the problem of trying to convince the courts that "untested and untried" methods of dealing with possible bovine TB would be effective. |
| He said: "There is a small possibility we could petition the House of Lords but just in logistical terms, never mind legal terms, it's quite a slim chance. | He said: "There is a small possibility we could petition the House of Lords but just in logistical terms, never mind legal terms, it's quite a slim chance. |
| Shambo the bullock is being kept in a special enclosure | Shambo the bullock is being kept in a special enclosure |
| "So it looks as though we're pretty much at the end of the road in legal terms." | "So it looks as though we're pretty much at the end of the road in legal terms." |
| He said Shambo's fate had "touched a raw nerve among the Hindu community" and he called on the assembly government to be "magnanimous" and provide one more skin test, even though he accepted there was only a remote possibility it would be negative. | He said Shambo's fate had "touched a raw nerve among the Hindu community" and he called on the assembly government to be "magnanimous" and provide one more skin test, even though he accepted there was only a remote possibility it would be negative. |
| He added: "It would give a little bit of confidence that they did understand the sensitivity that was involved in this one." | He added: "It would give a little bit of confidence that they did understand the sensitivity that was involved in this one." |
| The community has fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals. | The community has fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals. |
| But they have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where the animal is seen as a TB risk to livestock. | But they have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where the animal is seen as a TB risk to livestock. |
| Opposition | |
| Dai Davies, president of NFU Cymru, said the sooner Shambo was slaughtered the better. | Dai Davies, president of NFU Cymru, said the sooner Shambo was slaughtered the better. |
| He said: "The longer this animal lives, the longer the [bovine TB] reservoir will be in the heartland of livestock-producing areas of Wales. | He said: "The longer this animal lives, the longer the [bovine TB] reservoir will be in the heartland of livestock-producing areas of Wales. |
| "The sooner is it done, the sooner that reservoir of disease is removed from that locality." | "The sooner is it done, the sooner that reservoir of disease is removed from that locality." |
| The assembly government said it was looking to move forward, but it was not possible to give any timetable. | The assembly government said it was looking to move forward, but it was not possible to give any timetable. |
| "We are glad that the court has accepted the important public and animal health arguments in this case," said a spokesman. | "We are glad that the court has accepted the important public and animal health arguments in this case," said a spokesman. |