Sir, - Am I alone in being horrified by your recent reports of the Government decision to begin this obscene culling of 25,000 cattle per week?
Why do I not read even one single note of compassion in these reports - compassion for the poor unfortunate animals who, through no fault of their own, are to be sent en masse to a horrific death.
I understand Mr Teeling's concern for the people starving in Africa (January 3rd), but famine in Africa is brought about by global economic forces grossly unbalanced against the nations of the countries of "the South", and could be only temporarily and barely perceptibly relieved by the donation of these cattle. This is not to mention how people in Africa might feel about being offered food which is not good enough for Europeans to eat.
Are people so lacking in imagination that they cannot see the anguish and suffering that will be inflicted on these animals, forced into factories of slaughter full of terrifying noises and stenches of death? I am not so naive as to think this letter can stop the slaughter happening. Therefore, can I at least ask what precautions are being taken to ensure that these poor creatures will have a humane death, bearing in mind that the slaughter industry of Ireland will be putting to death 25,000 more cattle per week than it normally does? - Yours, etc.,
Mary Mangan, Kirwan Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.