Minister Muir can’t use threats against staff as a shield against scrutiny of DAERA’s decision to destroy 51 animals in Fivemiletown.

Threats or abuse directed at DAERA staff are completely unacceptable and should be condemned without qualification. But condemning those threats is not the same as accepting no scrutiny.

There are serious, reasonable questions here. Why was killing the cattle considered necessary? What alternatives were explored? Was animal welfare actually at the centre of these decisions, or an afterthought?

A farmer’s last-minute interest in buying more cattle reportedly led to animals escaping and being chased on a public road.

If a sale was genuinely still possible days before the operation, the public deserves a clear account of why it wasn’t pursued to completion - not a claim that no alternative existed at all.

Cllr Anthony Flynn said: “DAERA cannot talk about strengthening animal welfare standards on one hand while presiding over the mass destruction of healthy cattle in a public field on the other.”

“The independent review must fully examine the decisions that led to this outcome, including what alternatives existed and why they were rejected.”

“Minister Muir and DAERA owe the public complete transparency about what happened, and why.”

The circumstances of their former owner do not erase the Department’s duty of care. Once these animals came under state control, every reasonable effort should have been made to protect them.

These are legitimate public concerns. Dismissing them, or trying to shut down scrutiny by pointing to the abuse, does nothing to provide the answers people are owed.

With the external review’s findings not expected until autumn, DAERA should not use that timeline as a reason to withhold basic facts now .

The operational plan, the welfare risk assessment, and the rationale for how the cull was conducted should be published without waiting for the review to conclude.

ENDS

Media contact:
Anthony Flynn
07823668432
[email protected]
[email protected]

The Green Party has announced Councillor Anthony Flynn as its candidate for North Down in the 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly election, pledging a strong Green voice focused on protecting the environment, improving public services and delivering for communities across the constituency.

Commenting on his candidacy, Cllr Flynn said:

“North Down is a fantastic place to live, with an incredible coastline, thriving communities and so much potential. I’m delighted to have been selected as the Green Party candidate and I want to offer people a positive vision for what North Down can be.

“For me, that means protecting the environment that makes this area so special, improving the public services we all depend on, supporting our town centres and local businesses and making sure our communities have a strong voice at Stormont.”

Protecting North Down’s coastline and improving water quality will be among Cllr Flynn’s key priorities.

“The crisis at Lough Neagh has shown what happens when environmental problems are allowed to build for decades. We can’t repeat those mistakes with our rivers, lakes and coastline.

“Whether you swim, sail, paddleboard or simply enjoy our beaches, you should be able to trust that the water is clean and safe. That means tackling pollution and sewage, investing properly in our water infrastructure and putting environmental protection at the heart of government.”

Cllr Flynn also pledged to campaign for better public transport, stronger town centres and support for local businesses.

“Having worked in hospitality in North Down for six years, I know how important the sector is to the local economy and to the character of places like Bangor and Holywood. Businesses are facing huge pressures, and we need to help our town centres thrive.

“Good public transport, hospitality, tourism and vibrant town centres all go hand in hand. That also means better connections for communities such as Donaghadee, where people deserve a public transport service that gives them a genuine alternative to the car.

“We also need genuinely affordable homes while protecting the character of our communities and the green spaces that make North Down attractive. That requires a planning system that works in the public interest rather than development at any cost.”

Cllr Flynn said tackling the crisis facing health and social care must also be a priority for the next Assembly:

“Too many people in North Down are waiting far too long for appointments, treatment or care. We need to get waiting lists down, invest in prevention and primary care, and properly support the health and social care workforce. People should be able to access the care they need when they need it, not spend months or years waiting.”

Cllr Flynn also pledged to campaign for stronger animal welfare protections, saying Northern Ireland “continues to lag behind on too many animal welfare issues” and needs “proper enforcement and an Assembly prepared to act against cruelty rather than continually delaying difficult decisions.”

Reform of Stormont will also be a priority:

“We can’t continue with stop-start government where one party can collapse the institutions and leave people without a functioning Executive for years. Stormont needs reform so that no single party can bring government down. Whatever our political differences, people have a right to expect their government to turn up, stay in place and do its job.”

Turning to the record of the current Executive parties, Cllr Flynn said:

“Alliance has had significant representation in North Down and influence at Stormont, including ministerial office. People are entitled to ask whether that influence has delivered enough, from the state of our health service and public transport to the protection of our environment.

“Too many of the challenges facing North Down remain unresolved. I want to offer a Green alternative that will work constructively with others to get things done, but which won’t be afraid to challenge government when it isn’t delivering.”

Green Party NI leader Mal O’Hara welcomed Anthony’s candidacy:

“Anthony has shown on Belfast City Council what determined Green representation can achieve. He is a hardworking and effective councillor focused on delivering practical results.

“North Down has a proud history of Green representation, both at Stormont and through the dedicated work of our councillors locally. People here care deeply about their coastline, communities and public services, and Anthony is the right person to build on that record and return a strong Green voice for North Down to Stormont.”

Cllr Flynn added:

“I’m standing because I believe North Down has enormous potential. I want to bring the record of hard work and dedicated Green politics I’ve built as a councillor to Stormont, build on our party’s strong roots here and deliver for people across North Down.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Cllr Anthony Flynn has been a Green Party councillor on Belfast City Council, representing the Ormiston DEA, since 2019.

Before entering elected politics, Anthony worked in the hospitality sector in North Down for six years and has close family living in Bangor.

Media contact:
Anthony Flynn
07823668432
[email protected]
[email protected]

There’s dumped car in the River Lagan, just minutes from Lisburn’s council chamber, and it has been there for years. 

The Green Party are working with local group Lagan Valley Greens to highlight the matter and run a petition calling for its removal. This is a test of whether local agencies and Lisburn & Castlereagh Council will take responsibility for long-standing pollution in plain sight.

Cllr Anthony Flynn said the response so far has been unacceptable. “This car has been left in the river for years, right in the heart of the community, and the public deserves better than excuses and buck-passing,” he said. “If something like this can be ignored for so long, what message does that send about other fly-tipping sites?”

Richard Gill of Lagan Valley Greens said the case shows how historic neglect is allowed to become normal. “It’s appalling to see the Lagan treated like this. If the Council and Stormont can’t deal with an obvious long-term pollution problem, how can people trust them to protect the river from bigger environmental threats?”

The group is calling for the car to be removed, responsibility to be agreed, and a proper clean-up plan for the Lagan.

ENDS

Reacting to the news the Executive is to potentially receive £10 - £15m extra money through Barnett consequentials.

Cllr Flynn said "If the Executive is receiving millions of pounds extra in Barnett consequentials because the UK Government has chosen to invest in cheaper bus travel in England, then every penny of that funding should be invested in public transport here in Northern Ireland. 

At a time when Translink is consulting on service cuts, fare increases and reductions in concessions, there could hardly be a clearer case for using this money to protect and improve our public transport network. Public transport is the backbone of a modern economy. It gets people to work, supports our high streets, reduces congestion and gives people a genuine alternative to the car. If this new money exists because of investment in buses elsewhere, the Executive should use it to invest in buses and public transport here." 

ENDS

Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn has called for urgent action on greyhound racing in Northern Ireland following moves to ban the practice in Scotland and Wales.

Councillor Flynn said:

“This week, both Scotland and Wales have voted to ban greyhound racing. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, we still have an unregulated industry operating without transparency or accountability.”

“There is no dedicated legislation governing greyhound racing here. There is no official data on injuries or deaths and no proper oversight from DAERA. We know from other jurisdictions that greyhounds are injured and killed on tracks every year. There is no reason to believe Northern Ireland is any different.”

“The DAERA Minister recently responded to my motion after Belfast City Council called for action on this unregulated industry. His response was that there isn’t time in this mandate and that it’s not a priority. That is simply not good enough.”

“An unregulated industry involving animals should be a major concern for the minister responsible for animal welfare. Delaying action until the next mandate risks more animals suffering.”

“The question is whether we follow the evidence and act, or continue to turn a blind eye while others take action.”

ENDS

Cllr Flynn said “Fox hunting is vile cruelty dressed up as ‘sport’. Sinn Féin’s vote in the Dáil yesterday (17th December), taken alongside their record in the Assembly, shows a clear pattern. When they are given a chance to ban hunting with dogs, they choose instead to defend it.

If Sinn Féin believes fox hunting is wrong, they should come out and say so. If they believe it should continue, they should at least be honest with the public. What they cannot do is claim the language of animal welfare while repeatedly voting to keep this bloodsport legal across the island of Ireland.

A recent Ireland Thinks poll reported that 72% of the Irish people want fox hunting banned.

In Northern Ireland, the only part of the UK where hunting with dogs remains legal, a public consultation drew over 18,000 responses, with more than three-quarters backing a ban.

The evidence is overwhelming, and so is the will of the people. Majorities across the island, including thousands who engaged directly in consultation here in Northern Ireland, demand change. It is time to end the hunting of wild animals with packs of dogs and finally bring our laws into line with modern standards of animal welfare."

ENDS

Cllr Flynn said "The Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools is hugely significant, and can't be ignored by the executive."

"No child in a publicly-funded school should be pushed into a religious worldview that isn’t theirs. Northern Ireland is changing, our communities are diverse, and our education system needs to reflect that."

"I want to send my congratulations to the father and daughter who brought this case all the way to the supreme court."

"Those who claim this is about attacking faith are wrong, this is about respecting every family equally, including those with different beliefs or none at all."

"Religious education should be balanced, inclusive and modern. Compulsory worship rooted in one tradition belongs in the past, and the old “right to withdraw” simply isn’t good enough anymore."

"This ruling is a chance to finally update NI’s education framework so every child feels welcome and respected. The Executive should move quickly to make it happen."

"It’s 2025. Our schools should represent everyone."

ENDS

Cllr Anthony Flynn said “This morning I was shown deeply distressing footage of a family dog suffering an anxiety-induced stroke after being terrified by fireworks set off near their home. Despite the best efforts of their owners and vets, the dog had to be put to sleep. No animal should endure that level of fear.

"Every year, fireworks also cause huge distress to residents across Northern Ireland, particularly those living with anxiety, PTSD, and other medical conditions. The unexpected explosions and constant noise can trigger panic attacks, flashbacks and sleepless nights for countless people. The current legislation, the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002, has not been meaningfully reviewed in over two decades. It is failing to protect both people and animals. I am calling on the Department of Justice and the Justice Minister to urgently commission a full review of our fireworks laws, working with animal welfare groups, mental health organisations, local councils, the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service."

"That review must look at limiting private use, enforcing stricter sale controls, introducing low-noise fireworks as standard, and reducing the time window in which fireworks can legally be used. Fireworks may be brief entertainment for some, but for many families, they bring nights of fear, distress and, as we saw in this tragic case, heartbreak. Northern Ireland deserves laws that reflect compassion, safety, and respect for all who live here.”

ENDS

“The LGBTQ+ window at City Hall is now an iconic feature,” said Cllr Flynn. “Its design incorporates powerful imagery and references that reflect key moments in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Northern Ireland. This includes a quote from journalist Lyra McKee, who was tragically murdered by dissident republicans, symbolic emblems from historic campaigns, such as decriminalisation and marriage equality, and a photo depiction of Tarlach Mac Niallais wearing his 'Save Sodomy from Ulster' T-shirt, which was an act of protest against the discriminatory 'Save Ulster from Sodomy' campaign led by Rev Dr Ian Paisley.”

“In recent days, members of the TUV have taken issue with one particular slogan featured in the design,” he said. “Yet they remain silent on the origins of that slogan, which was a campaign of bigotry that inflicted deep harm on LGBTQ+ people across Northern Ireland. It’s deeply hypocritical to take offence at the response while ignoring the damage caused by the original message.”

“This is yet another example of the TUV engaging in performative culture wars rather than offering any meaningful solutions for the working-class communities they claim to represent. It’s unsurprising coming from a party whose main contribution to politics seems to be soundbites designed for social media engagement.”

“The window was extensively considered by all parties on Belfast City Council and received unanimous support, including from the TUV,” he noted.

ENDS