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Livestock Auctioneer Fined After Man Killed By Escaped Cow

By Hugh Fort in Crime and Fraud, posted June 27, 2024

A company has been fined after a 75-year-old man was killed by a cow which escaped from a livestock market in Wales.

Father-of-two Huw Evans was knocked down and trampled by the animal that was being auctioned at a livestock market run by J.J. Morris Limited on November 19 2022.

The cow was being unloaded into a pen at the Whitland Livestock Market.

However, it escaped and ran off towards Whitland, Carmarthenshire.

"Losing Dad has had a tremendous effect on both myself and my brother"

Mr Evans, who also lived in Whitland, had been crossing the junction at North Road and West Street when he was attacked by the cow.

He suffered multiples injuries and was flown to the University Hospital of Wales where he died six days later.

A worker at J.J. Morris Limited was also injured in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the cow.

It ran towards Whitland Rugby Club and a railway line before being captured and put down by Dyfed-Powys Police.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found J.J. Morris Limited, which has operated Whitland Livestock Market for over 30 years, failed to implement basic, physical control measures to prevent cattle from escaping.

It also deemed the company’s risk assessment was not suitable or sufficient.

This was because it referenced control measures not present at the market.

Mr Evans’ son, Dafydd, said in his victim personal statement: “Dad was my best friend and I miss him terribly, he was taken from us too soon.

"Losing Dad has had a tremendous effect on both myself and my brother.

"Because of this incident Dad’s grandsons will never fully know him personally and he will not see them grow up.”

J.J. Morris Limited, of High Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

It was fined 75,000 and ordered to pay £5,047.55 in costs at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on 20 June 2024.

HSE inspector Rhys Hughes said: “This tragic incident was foreseeable and preventable.

The risk posed by cattle escaping from the livestock mart should have been identified, and effective control measures implemented.

"The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance, which is readily accessible and outlines the requirements to safely manage cattle.”

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