But in the North where there is little new under the sun about what the cops might do, with restrictions on their ability to shoot nationalists the Pig Service of Northern Ireland has taken to shooting cows.
I am not going to jump on my animal rights soap box and give out about animal cruelty. Not being much of an animal lover, it would merely be virtue signalling - a phrase I used to regard as curmudgeonly nonsense until the wisdom of it eventually reached me. Although, we have always had pets, the responsibility of taking them to the vet to be euthanised when they have just about reached the finishing line has invariably fallen my way. Probably because I am pretty relaxed about the end of life. When there is nowhere else to go then going nowhere peacefully and painlessly seems the best option.
The separate incidents of cowcide took place earlier this year in Tyrone, the site of many gun incidents involving state security services. Back in the day the victims of state violence were said to have made aggressive moves which necessitated them being fired on. One of the cows in question was supposedly acting in a highly aggressive manner. Perhaps that meant that it moved its leg in a suspicious fashion that led to the cop feeling his life was in danger, leading to him discharging his weapon. The other cow was said to be in such pain that it had to be put out of its misery. Many of us who experienced northern policing would find that strange given the pain and misery that the police often took delight from inflicting.
The Police ombudsman's investigation stood over the decisions to kill the animals, stating that police action was in line with the policy for the 'humane destruction of animals.' Progress of sorts in that the cops seem to have moved on from the 'humane' destruction of people. The police gunmen involved had 'followed their training and acted proportionally.', having acted “with care and coordination”.
The public can be reassured that, in these cases, police officers acted with compassion while ensuring the safety of the community was protected.
What a delicious word salad aimed at enhancing the public appetite to be policed and to be killed humanely if the need arises.
A final thought occurred to me that the cops involved might considering moonlighting in the abattoir industry. If so they would not be able to slaughter animals for halal meat. Muslims would not appreciate pigs near their source of food.
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