A Stormont whistleblower who has raised concerns about animal welfare and meat traceability has been awarded £1.25m in compensation.
Senior veterinarian Dr Tamara Bronckaers has received an unreserved apology from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) after a tribunal last year found she had been constructively dismissed.
Her lawyers described the payment as the largest ever in Northern Ireland.
traceability
Dr Bronckaers, who previously worked in the department’s veterinary services animal health group, has raised concerns about serious breaches of animal welfare legislation and traceability in the meat supply chain related to the deletion of records of the movement of cattle sold between farms.
She resigned after claiming management ignored her concerns and was unfairly treated for reporting the issues.
Dr Bronckaers said: “The past few years have been very painful for me and my family.
“It’s been a long time since this result and I can move on because I know I did the right thing and now I have a reasonable apology that the department has been waiting for.
“I have seen animals suffer needlessly and believe that over a five-year period, over 20,000 animals have been involved in the removal, which will have a major impact on traceability within the supply chain.
Protect
“I firmly believe that the department has failed in its duty to protect animal welfare, and therefore I cannot continue to do work that I am not allowed to do in an ethical manner. I cannot sit idly by while these violations continue.”
John McShane, a veterinary solicitor from McCartan Turkington Breen LLP, added: “This is the largest settlement of its kind in Northern Ireland and Dr Bronckaers’ results are entirely plausible given that the injuries she suffered have impacted more than just her career. , but her family and her financial situation.
“I am absolutely shocked by the bravery of Dr. Bronckaers.
“She was willing to do what was morally right to the detriment of herself, her family and her standard of living in retirement. It was a choice few would make because the easier way was to keep quiet.
“Hopefully the outcome of this landmark case provides reassurance that, at the very least, those who choose to report are indeed protected by the law.”
this author
David Young is a reporter for PA.
