In March 2023, seven animal rights activists from the group Meat The Victims charged with aggravated trespass at a Northern Ireland farm received a formal police caution. The activist had trespassed Gartross Poultry Farm, Donaghcloney, Northern Ireland, on 2nd July 2021. The activists recorded themselves doing it, and images posted on media platforms after the protest showed them sitting and explaining to the police officers that attended the scene why they had entered the farm.
One of the activists, Tuesday Goti, who had already been convicted for a similar case, told the Sunday World the following: “I was told if I didn’t plead guilty, I’d be going to jail this time for sure. I won’t accept guilt because moral compassion is not a crime and I believe one day it won’t be. They told me even if I didn’t plead guilty to this one they were still offering me a caution so I took it because I expect the cops are going to be back at my door soon when the farmer finds out I went back and trespassed illegally on his dairy farm across the road! In fact, we went back eight times and filmed the herd to build up a proper picture of what it’s like for the animals. I’m planning to release the video footage at the Irish Vegan Festival in April.”
In 2021 Goti was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for three years after she exposed a different chicken farm and took some of the birds. She said she aimed to bring awareness to what goes on as opposed to what agriculture and the government portray. She added they had a vet and sanctuary on standby to deal with any open rescues.
