Deaths of pigs in fire criticised

Animal welfare groups yesterday criticised the factory farming of animals after gardaí estimated that a fire at a piggery in Co Waterford led to the deaths of more than 100 pigs.

The alarm was raised at about 7.45am and gardaí in Tramore and five tenders, from Dunmore East and Portlaw, responded immediately. The fire was "under control within 30 minutes" and firefighters continued to "damp-down" the site into the afternoon.

Gardaí sealed off the area pending a technical examination but a spokesman at the farm believed the fire was not malicious. Nobody was injured in the fire at Fenor Farms, Matthewstown, Fenor.

Chairman of Waterford Animal Concern, John Tierney, said, "Our concern here is how the pigs are reared at piggeries - we believe this is cruel. When a fire happens in a system like this, the pigs have nowhere to go."