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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Mass animal grave' found at farm | 'Mass animal grave' found at farm |
| (3 days later) | |
| A "mass grave" of more than 40 animals has been discovered on a County Down farm. | A "mass grave" of more than 40 animals has been discovered on a County Down farm. |
| Hundreds of animals were found in squalid conditions, with many already dead and others had to be put down. | Hundreds of animals were found in squalid conditions, with many already dead and others had to be put down. |
| The USPCA and police raided the farm near Katesbridge after receiving a tip-off that animals were being kept in cruel conditions. | The USPCA and police raided the farm near Katesbridge after receiving a tip-off that animals were being kept in cruel conditions. |
| More than 300 pigs and cattle were found. The USPCA is going to court to seek an order to remove the animals. | More than 300 pigs and cattle were found. The USPCA is going to court to seek an order to remove the animals. |
| The USPCA, said while the livestock was generally healthy, it was being kept in appalling conditions. | The USPCA, said while the livestock was generally healthy, it was being kept in appalling conditions. |
| Some of the animals were standing in 8 ins of water at the premises at Ballyroney Road. | Some of the animals were standing in 8 ins of water at the premises at Ballyroney Road. |
| 'Very difficult' | 'Very difficult' |
| Stephen Philpott of the USPCA said: "The entire farm was heavily stocked, it was over-crowded, there were no welfare standards at all on the farm," he said. | Stephen Philpott of the USPCA said: "The entire farm was heavily stocked, it was over-crowded, there were no welfare standards at all on the farm," he said. |
| "Unfortunately, on our first sweep through the farm our vet had to destroy animals and try and relieve suffering as best we could. | |
| "We then had to try and thin out some of the animals and move them to other housing. | "We then had to try and thin out some of the animals and move them to other housing. |
| "We had to get emergency food and water and try and clean some of the buildings. | "We had to get emergency food and water and try and clean some of the buildings. |
| "That was very difficult to do. And then we discovered what we believed to be a mass grave." | "That was very difficult to do. And then we discovered what we believed to be a mass grave." |
| The USPCA said it believed it knows the family responsible for the farm. | The USPCA said it believed it knows the family responsible for the farm. |
| Several have convictions for animal cruelty and are banned from keeping livestock. | Several have convictions for animal cruelty and are banned from keeping livestock. |
| Inspectors spoke to a member of that family. He told them that while he fed the animals, he did not own them and he did not know who did. | Inspectors spoke to a member of that family. He told them that while he fed the animals, he did not own them and he did not know who did. |