RSPCA Ramsgate hearing brought forward
The RSPCA’s oral hearing for its legal challenge to ban live animal exports from Ramsgate port has been brought forward to Wednesday 20 March.
The hearing had been due to take place at the High Court on 10 May, but the charity successfully applied to bring it forward following the publication of a government report into the incident last week.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “It is good news that the hearing to decide whether the RSPCA can bring this judicial review will take place next week, rather than in May as originally scheduled.
“We hope the court will give us permission to bring this case, in view of the important animal welfare issues involved.”
In January, a High Court judge refused the RSPCA permission to bring the case to a judicial review following consideration of court papers. Mr Justice Stephen Miles said at the time that the RSPCA’s case was not arguable.
However, the charity appealed the decision and the court agreed to set an oral hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The RSPCA remains confident it can persuade the court to grant permission for a full hearing.
RSPCA chief legal officer Ray Goodfellow said: “We are taking this stand because we believe AHVLA’s approach is failing to safeguard animal welfare and is in breach of European laws designed to protect animals from injury or undue suffering during transport. We believe we have a strong case which deserves to be heard.
“The issues remain the same – the lack of facilities at or near the port to deal with emergencies, the use of an old tank transporter to ship animals across the Channel in rough weather and the failure to thoroughly inspect animals at the port are all unacceptable.
“These issues have serious implications for animal welfare, which is why the RSPCA is pressing its case further.”
The RSPCA has established a “fighting fund” to help pay for the legal costs for the case.
A report published by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) last Tuesday (5 March) established that RSPCA officials played a key role in the events at Ramsgate harbour on 12 September, which culminated with the slaughter of 47 sheep.
The AHVLA has declined to comment on the RSPCA’s legal challenge while proceedings remain active.