Jiglu: Farmtalking: Discussion: Janet Hughes

Originally from: Farmtalking

I've received the following message from Barbara Bradshaw concernng Janet Hughes and pass it on together with my reply for your information.

I spoke to Janet this morning and she is endeavouring to contact the Court/Bailiffs to arrange a delay in the Baiiff's return and set up a regular payment to the Court of the outstanding debt. She has promised to let me know how she gets on.

However, Janet herself can afford very little each month and therefore it is very urgent that we help all we can. She has assured me that all donations received will be paid to settle these outstanding costs.

Best wishes – Jane

We must help this lady.

Personally I can't send what I would like to send because of my overdraft. I am sure this applies to many others. However I will make a small donation.

I have just phoned BBC Wales. They are very interested.
As I had just made a copy of the e-mail I read from it and offered to Fax it. This I did straight away and I was thanked for alerting them.

Let's hope something good comes out of this.

Barbara

Thanks Barbara! –

I have also sent a donation from the Farmtalking Legal Fund today and I do hope others will do the same!

Thanks also for contacting the Press in Wales – I certainly hope they follow it up!

Best wishes – Jane

Author wrote:
Many of you will remember Janet Hughes who insisted on challenging through the Courts, MAFF/DEFRA’s desire to cull the hefted sheep in the Brecon Beacons.
When Janet found out about their intentions she contacted many of the graziers who had sheep on the Beacons and offered to be a guarantor for them and take out an injunction to prevent the culling. However, no-one was willing to accept her suggestion.
Therefore, Janet bought ten hefted sheep and making an application herself, the judge made an order for a hearing on 16 August after which no further culling took place on the Beacons.
The case was heard on 21 August when the judge refused permission for both an injunction and judicial review.
However, Janet continued the fight and took the case to Appeal in Cardiff on 21 January 2002. When permission was again refused she made an application to the European Court of Human Rights. That application was made in June 2002 and a decision on it’s admissibility could take up to a year.
The costs to take the case to Court in Cardiff amounted to over £21,000, and donations amounting to £10,500 were made from people from all over the UK. The remainder came from Janet's family savings.
When there were no more funds left for solicitors fees, Janet continued to tackle MAFF/DEFRA through the Courts representing herself but when her case was lost the judge laid the costs at Janet’s door. Amounting to some £17,000 (£13,000 for DEFRA and £3,800 for the Welsh Assembly,).
Janet has no funds left to pay these costs and had believed DEFRA would wait for the decision from the European Court of Human Rights before claiming them. However yesterday, the 28th January 2003, Bailiffs arrived at her home to collect payment and when that was not possible they listed her possessions. They will return to seize them on behalf of the Court in 5 days time unless Janet can settle the debt.
We should remember that during 2001 the situation was very grave all over the UK. In the Brecon Beacons alone, had the cull continued, there would have been drastic consequences for the hefted sheep population and the environment.
There is no doubt that MAFF/DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly were planning to cull many more sheep, but after the Court hearing their personnel left the area.
The time and money that Janet gave, at considerable personal cost, was of benefit to all who are concerned about animal welfare and the necessity for disease control to be based on sound science and the use of modern methods of diagnostic test and vaccine.
We have to be very grateful that Janet at least succeeded in stopping the cull in Brecon.
It is extremely urgent that we do all we can to help Janet to pay these costs and I appeal to everyone to send as much as they can afford and please send it now!
Thank you very much!
Please make cheques/postal orders payable to:-
‘Save the Sheep Appeal Fund’
Send them to:-
Laurels Cottage.
Churchstoke.
Montgomery.
Nr.Powys.
SY15 6SR
For more information see –
http://www.blaikiewell.com/saveoursheep