ILLEGAL ENTRY
I have just spoken on the telephone to Carolyn Hoffe for the first time since her sheep
were murdered. Although I had tried to call her before, her number was always engaged. On
this bright and sunny Sunday morning, I got through. After I offered my few pathetic
words of heartfelt condolence for her loss, she told me what had happened.
The horror I had felt knowing that the Court Judgment gave her leave to Appeal but then
issued an immediate destruction order for her sheep, was mind numbing. However, it bears
no comparison to the utter shock, dismay and fear that I now feel, having heard from
Carolyn what actually happened.
Carolyn lives in a house called Appleby Row and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, in
Appleby Row Cottage, a former holiday home next door. There had been considerable coverage
of her plight by the media and as we know Carolyn had locked her front door to protect her
animals and she and her parents were only accessing her house through an interconnecting
door between their homes, using the entrance to her parent's Cottage, via a small utility
room, to go in and out.
Yesterday afternoon as the Vets and Valuers, Police and Army arrived, Carolyn's friend,
Pam Groves, wearing a white body suit, was allowed to go into the Cottage to be with
Carolyn.
Carolyn's Mother saw a white suited figure approaching the house, seemingly alone. Pamela
called to her through the door to identify herself and Carolyn asked her Mother to let her
in. As she entered, a large policeman suddenly appeared and pushed her roughly from
behind into the 70 year old, Barbara. The Policeman was immediately followed by the
Vet, Vikki Cleghorn, she grabbed the elderly lady's arm as she tried to close the door.
Carolyn's Mother screamed, and another Policeman, Vet and Valuer were in the house in
seconds. A third policeman attempted to enter followed by Ghurka soldiers, but Barbara
said, 'No! no! you can't come in!' , so they stopped and the Ghurkas immediately
withdrew. The first Policeman to enter was Chief Inspector McCloud. He rushed into the
house and threw open a bedroom door, believing it to be the one that connected to
Carolyn's home. Her Father, Douglas, 65, remonstrated with him 'This is my home!' he said,
'This is private property! You're in the wrong house!' The Inspector replied, 'No it
isn't. all this house belongs to Carolyn Hoffe and I have a right, I can go anywhere!' 'No
you can't!' said her Father, 'This is our home, we pay rent!' The inspector took no
notice. He tried another door and found it locked, 'Give me the key!' he demanded as he
grabbed at the handle, and then to Douglas he said, 'Anymore out of you and I'll arrest
you!'.
Douglas asked him if he had a Warrant, and he said they had, but failed to produce it.
Vikki Cleghorn muttered that they were acting in accordance with the Animal Health Act
1981.
Police Inspector, Mr. McCloud, then demanded that the interconnecting door be unlocked
immediately, saying, 'If you don't, I'll kick it in and it looks quite new to me,
afterwards it won't be a pretty sight!'
Carolyn's Mother was screaming and her Father arguing with the Police as best he could.
The family's pet cats were fleeing in terror while a rescued rabbit was traumatized in its
hutch. Carolyn was incensed with anger but gripped with fear by this invasion of her
parent's home and the intimidation and threats being issued. Seeing the mounting distress
in her Mother she feared for her well being and finally relented and agreed to unlock the
door.
Her brave friend Pamela and her Father went into Carolyn's home and accompanied by Vet
Martin Peatie and the Police. All to soon, the evil deed was done.
Carolyn had forbidden Vikki Cleghorn, more police and the army personnel to enter and for
once they acceded to her wishes.
Both her Father and Pamela Groves, were wearing microphones attached to them by the media,
so recorded evidence is available.
Carolyn tells me that she is consulting with her lawyers and expects charges to be brought
on behalf of herself and her parents.
It is my fervent hope that the end result will be the most severe sentencing of those who
are guilty, The Police who seem to have flagrantly abused their powers. Not only failing
to produce either a Warrant or Court Order but also having caused criminal damage and used
language threatening to cause extreme damage to private property. Also including, Vikki
Cleghorn for daring to assault an elderly woman in her own home, should hang her head in
shame. Not only for the action described but also for breaking the Veterinary oath, sworn
by Vets on qualification.
I had hoped that a world famous journalist would retell this part of Carolyn's story, but
he has told me that after many weeks recording the horrors of the Foot and Mouth saga in
the U.K. for a National paper, he is so appalled by the continued persecution of innocent
healthy animals and their owners, that he plans to leave the Country as soon as possible.
For him this is no longer a green and pleasant land.
He urged me to do the same. Not understanding why I had chosen to make my home in
Scotland, a Country where he said the people seemed prepared to put up with a fascist
Police State, where the Court's attitude is one of complicity with the illegal policies of
the Labour Government. Where the manner in which branches of MAFF, aided and abetted by
the NFU, are operating the most evil scorched earth policy with no regard for the Law and
the Civil liberties of its people. The Scots deserve it he said.
I am extremely sorry that he has made this decision and come to those conclusions. I have
only lived in Scotland for the past two years but I have made many friends and I know
there are many Scots who abhor what is being perpetrated in their land today.
I will not leave the Country or give up the fight for what I believe to be right and I am
sure that every day more and more brave hearted Scots will join me in my efforts to ensure
that there are no more of them who will suffer the injustice meted out to Carolyn, her
family and 'friends'.
Jane Barribal - Farmtalking.com
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