Fifty cattle were shot dead in a field near Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, in what a local councillor has described as like a scene from the “wild west”.

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) officials carried out the operation on 29 June 2026 to “execute a court deprivation order on a herd belonging to a disqualified keeper, in respect of animal welfare offences”, a DAERA spokesperson said.

Sinn Féin councillor Eugene McConnell told a meeting of Mid Ulster District Council that the incident occurred on farmland and that people “standing on ditches watching the marksmen shoot the animals dead in the field”.

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He said the “disturbing incident” happened in his area outside Clogher, “where a farmer unfortunately had 50 animals shot dead on his farm”.

The councillor said he spoke to a Department vet who relayed an overview of the situation from DAERA’s perspective. However, he raised concerns about the manner in which the incident was carried out.

It was like a wild west scene

“I think what happened over the course of that two days, the shooting started at 10 o’clock in the morning and the last animal was shot at 10 to 10 that evening and it was like a wild west scene.

“There was cars blocking the roads, there were people standing on ditches watching the marksmen shoot the animals dead in the field and these were big healthy, full-grown animals both adult and young.

“At one stage four young calves broke loose and made the run for freedom. They were accompanied by the bull and the bull got away into a nearby forest, but the marksmen went after it and shot the four calves and the bull,” he told the Mid Ulster District Council meeting.

'More humane way'

He said there “must be a more humane or better type of situation [for a cull to be carried out] than the disturbing scenes for the people that were living locally and the phone calls I was getting until I got on site". "It was like a wild west scene,” he added.

He said there had to be a better way to deal with this and that they should be taken off site.

“The operation was planned in advance and the methodology selected was considered the most appropriate in the circumstances, taking account of animal welfare, staff and public safety, and the views of relevant operational teams, including engagement with PSNI,” the DAERA spokesperson said.

“As with any large and sensitive operation, officials responded dynamically to issues arising on the day and will complete a lessons learned review to identify any improvements for future operations,” they added.