In that case, the prosecution had alleged that the bull, known as Zac, was known to have displayed aggressive tendencies in incidents which occurred prior to the fatal incident. However, the farmer denied that Zac had behaved aggressively, and asserted that, prior to the incident, he had no reason to believe that Zac was potentially dangerous. Questions were also raised about the identity of the animal involved in the fatal incident, as it was suggested that the animal involved had horns, but Zac did not have horns.
After hearing all of the evidence in the case, the jury returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict, clearing the farmer of any criminal conduct.
In response to this case NFU head of policy Andrew Clark said: “This was a tragic incident and our sympathies are with all involved.
“Farmers know their livestock and are best placed to assess the risks posed by their animals. They take their responsibilities extremely seriously and are mindful of their duty of care to those who use public rights of way. While devastating to all involved, cases like this are very rare.
“The NFU publishes guidance on practical measures that farmers can take to minimise the risk of incidents, which is kept in line legal developments and HSE guidance.
“There are millions of visits made to the countryside each year. This case should not discourage anyone from visiting the countryside this summer as farmers take great pride in maintaining our countryside.”
NFU members can find further information on the issues relevant to keeping livestock in fields crossed by public rights of way in NFU Business Guide 407, which is available to download, or can be ordered from NFU CallFirst on 0870 845 8458.