Rescue operation to free 40 cows after lorry overturns on motorway

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

An operation is continuing to free cattle from a livestock lorry which overturned on the M1 in Co Armagh.

The motorway remains closed in both directions near Lurgan, following the incident which involved about 40 cows on Friday morning.

David Doherty, area commander for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), said the driver “is safe and well”.

He told the BBC Nolan Show: “At the minute, we have 30 firefighters on scene, we have appliances form Dungannon, Portadown and Armagh.

“We have two specialist animal rescue teams… and we have our specialist rescue team.

“We have an overturned lorry. Thankfully, the driver is safe and well.

“There are 40 cattle trapped in the lorry, we are carrying out an extraction of those animals.

“We have a rescue plan in place we are off-loading those animals into another vehicle and we will transport them away safely.

“It is a challenging operation at the moment. Unfortunately, both ways of the motorway are currently closed, and may be for several hours.”

He added: “We have vets on scene at the minute to do an assessment on the animals.

“It is a multi-agency programme, and we have DAERA looking after the animal welfare.

“It will be a protracted operation. A large vehicle like this with two decks, which has obviously been affected by the impact of the crash.

“It is quite a comprehensive operation, that is why our specialist crew are here assisting our normal crews.

“It is quite a complex task for our firefighters.”

Mr Doherty said rescue workers were moving as quickly as possible to free the cows.

He said: “We have to bring them out onto a safe environment, where we can put them onto another vehicle where they won’t be exposed to any further harm.”

The PSNI said the motorway closure is in place from junction 12 at Birches off the Dungannon Road junction and junction 13, known as Beatties junction, near the Black Island Road turn-off.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “A closure remains in place on the M1 following an overturned lorry near junction 13 between Tamnamore and The Birches.

“Motorists travelling city-bound on the M1 are advised to leave the motorway at junction 15, the Moy Road roundabout, and travel through Armagh before joining the M12 at Portadown.

“The opposite applies to those travelling countrywards.”

A Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “The department is aware of the accident and whilst our vets are not required on the scene at the moment, we have offered support and resources to those on the ground.

“The incident remains ongoing.”

In a separate incident, the M1 is also closed following a collision closer to Belfast.

A PSNI statement said: “Road users are advised that a collision on the M1 eastbound, between Finaghy and the Blacks Road, city-bound, is causing delays.

“Please seek an alternative route if possible.”