THE unprecedented payout to whistleblower vet Tamara Bronckaers reflects the shocking level of failings her case exposed inside the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Dr Bronckaers received 1.25 million – the largest ever settlement of its type in Northern Ireland – after effectively being forced from her government job in 2018 amid repeated attempts to raise concerns relating to animal welfare and meat traceability.
The courageous public servant had discovered that thousands of animals every year were having their movements deleted from electronic systems.
She was worried this could impact on Northern Ireland's much-vaunted traceability of meat within the food supply chain – vital to consumer confidence at home and abroad – as well as the spread of diseases including bovine TB.
Dr Bronckaers also recorded evidence of what she considered in her professional judgement to be suffering of animals at one livestock market.
Her concerns were never acted on. She told an industrial tribunal she resigned after feeling "excluded, ignored and undermined".
The department used public funds to fight the case but a judge was highly critical of the actions of some senior officials and an apology was eventually issued.
Dr Bronckaers deserves enormous credit for making a stand at great personal cost in the interests of animal welfare and food safety.
Her solicitor rightly praised her bravery and spoke of his hope that the case will offer reassurance to other...
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