Foot-and-mouth farmer faces court

1 June 2001



Foot-and-mouth farmer faces court

By Nigel Burnham

THE Northumberland farmer blamed for starting Britains foot-and-mouth epidemic is to be prosecuted, it has been confirmed.

Trading standards officials said they had begun legal proceedings against Bobby Waugh over the outbreak at his Heddon-on-the-Wall farm.

Charges are expected to include failure to notify the existence of the disease on his farm before its discovery by Ministry of Agriculture in February.

Mr Waugh is also likely to be charged with causing unnecessary suffering to pigs by his failure to deal with the disease and its symptoms.

A further charge is expected of using unprocessed catering waste as pigswill, and failing to record the movement of pigs from onto his farm.

Mr Waugh confirmed that he had been notified of the action and said that the matter was in the hands of his solicitors.

“Ill go to court if I have to, but Ill get off. They cant prove any of this.”

Trading standards officials allege six other offences, including the illegal disposal of pig carcasses and operating an unlicensed livestock collection centre.

Ministers have consistently blamed Mr Waughs farm as the “likely source” of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, which has seen millions of animals slaughtered.

Official figures show that more than 3 million animals have been killed in attempt to control the disease although the true death toll is likely to be much higher.

However, there is some evidence that the disease could have been present in British sheep long before Mr Waughs pigs were found to have the disease.

Mr Waugh revealed today that Ministry of Agriculture officials are still refusing to allow him to clean his farm.

“I have been on the phone to MAFF almost every day since the beginning of March asking when I can clean it out,” he said.

“It seems they are determined to make me responsible for the foot-and-mouth outbreak and all the time I am paying rent and wages yet cannot make a living.

“It makes me sick – it has already cost me over 24,500.”

Mr Waugh maintains he is being made a scapegoat.

“The pigs were clean when they went to Cheale Meats in Essex on February 16, and I was paid for them,” he said.

“That wouldnt have happened if they had shown signs of foot-and-mouth.”

Harash Narang, a scientist from north-east England, said the pig slurry at Mr Waughs farm could technically harbour the foot-and-mouth virus.

“But as the weeks have gone by I have become convinced there is a hidden agenda to blame Bobby Waugh for the outbreak,” he said.

“I think [it] probably really started at a MAFF lab or experimental farm.”

Bruce Jobson, an animal geneticist, said: “After 100 days it seems bizarre to leave the farm, officially blamed by the Government, uncleaned.

“What are they trying to prove – except to stitch up Bobby Waugh?”

A MAFF spokesman said there was a delay in cleaning out the farm because of problems disposing of 60,000 gallons of pig slurry and wash water.

“Preliminary disinfecting took place at Burnside Farm following the killing of the animals,” he said.

“But we have a significant problem with waste disposal. The slurry on site does not present a threat as long as there is no livestock to be infected.”

A spokesman for Northumberland Trading Standards Office confirmed Mr Waugh was to be prosecuted but declined to comment further.

Mr Waugh could be prosecuted under a wide number laws including the Protection of Animals Act and the Animal By-products Order (1999).

The more serious offences could carry a prison sentence or fine up to 2000 plus costs. If found guilty he could also be banned from keeping livestock.

• Source farm was given all-clear, FWi, 24 February, 2001
• North-east farm source of disease?, FWi, 23 February, 2001
  

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