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'Sacred' bullock Shambo is saved 'Sacred' bullock Shambo is saved
(30 minutes later)
The "sacred" bullock due to be slaughtered after it tested positive for TB, has been saved after a High Court judge quashed a government order.The "sacred" bullock due to be slaughtered after it tested positive for TB, has been saved after a High Court judge quashed a government order.
Monks from the multi-faith Skanda Vale community in Carmarthenshire appealed against an assembly government ruling that the animal must be put down.Monks from the multi-faith Skanda Vale community in Carmarthenshire appealed against an assembly government ruling that the animal must be put down.
Their lawyers argued it would breach the Human Rights Convention.Their lawyers argued it would breach the Human Rights Convention.
The Welsh Assembly Government has now lodged an appeal, but will have to pay the costs of the hearing.The Welsh Assembly Government has now lodged an appeal, but will have to pay the costs of the hearing.
The assembly government has said that killing Shambo would eliminate the risk of the disease spreading.The assembly government has said that killing Shambo would eliminate the risk of the disease spreading.
The judge, Mr Justice Hickinbottom, said: "This judgement does not, of course, guarantee that, as the community wish, Shambo will live until he dies a natural death. His Honour Judge Gary Hickinbottom said: "This judgement does not, of course, guarantee that, as the community wish, Shambo will live until he dies a natural death.
'Wrong approach''Wrong approach'
"This judgement merely rules that the decisions of 3 May and 3 July to issue the slaughter notice and to pursue the slaughter under that notice were unlawful and will be quashed.""This judgement merely rules that the decisions of 3 May and 3 July to issue the slaughter notice and to pursue the slaughter under that notice were unlawful and will be quashed."
The assembly government, he added, "have adopted the wrong approach in this case" and would now have to reconsider the matter.The assembly government, he added, "have adopted the wrong approach in this case" and would now have to reconsider the matter.
"They will be obliged to reconsider the public health objectives that underlie behind the surveillance and slaughter policy, and come to a view as to whether, in the reasonable pursuit of those objectives, the slaughter of this animal (or some less intrusive measure) would be proportional given the serious infringement of the community's rights under Article 9 that slaughter would involve.""They will be obliged to reconsider the public health objectives that underlie behind the surveillance and slaughter policy, and come to a view as to whether, in the reasonable pursuit of those objectives, the slaughter of this animal (or some less intrusive measure) would be proportional given the serious infringement of the community's rights under Article 9 that slaughter would involve."
Shambo is housed in a temple in the grounds of Skanda ValeShambo is housed in a temple in the grounds of Skanda Vale
The assembly government said it was considering the verdict and is due to release a statement shortly.The assembly government said it was considering the verdict and is due to release a statement shortly.
The decision came after lawyers for both parties laid out their arguments in a hearing in Cardiff on Thursday.The decision came after lawyers for both parties laid out their arguments in a hearing in Cardiff on Thursday.
Judges had adjourned the hearing to consider over the weekend whether there should be a judicial review on the proposed slaughter.Judges had adjourned the hearing to consider over the weekend whether there should be a judicial review on the proposed slaughter.
David Anderson QC for the Hindu monks at the Skanda Vale community near Llanpumsaint, said Shambo was an animal of "considerable religious importance" and as such a policy devised for farm animals could not be applied to it.David Anderson QC for the Hindu monks at the Skanda Vale community near Llanpumsaint, said Shambo was an animal of "considerable religious importance" and as such a policy devised for farm animals could not be applied to it.
'Serious infringement''Serious infringement'
He said members of the community believed that slaughtering the six-year-old black Friesian would be "a desecration of the temple".He said members of the community believed that slaughtering the six-year-old black Friesian would be "a desecration of the temple".
He referred to article nine of the European Convention of Human Rights which guarantees "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and the right to "to manifest religion or belief in worship".He referred to article nine of the European Convention of Human Rights which guarantees "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and the right to "to manifest religion or belief in worship".
Mr Anderson said slaughtering Shambo would be a "serious infringement in a deeply-held belief".Mr Anderson said slaughtering Shambo would be a "serious infringement in a deeply-held belief".
But Clive Lewis QC for the Welsh Assembly Government, said bovine tuberculosis was an infectious disease capable of transmission to other animals, including wildlife and humans.But Clive Lewis QC for the Welsh Assembly Government, said bovine tuberculosis was an infectious disease capable of transmission to other animals, including wildlife and humans.
He said the matter had been carefully considered by the Rural Development Minister Jane Davidson, who ordered Shambo's destruction earlier in July after taking advice from the chief veterinary officer and the chief medical officer.He said the matter had been carefully considered by the Rural Development Minister Jane Davidson, who ordered Shambo's destruction earlier in July after taking advice from the chief veterinary officer and the chief medical officer.
Mr Lewis also told the court there was no accepted treatment for bovine TB in the UK, and that under control measures, slaughter was carried out to protect human and animal health.Mr Lewis also told the court there was no accepted treatment for bovine TB in the UK, and that under control measures, slaughter was carried out to protect human and animal health.
A campaign to save Shambo has included an online petition which has attracted more than 20,000 names. A video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen in the temple.A campaign to save Shambo has included an online petition which has attracted more than 20,000 names. A video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen in the temple.