The SBA sow slaughterhouse in Briec (Finistère), belonging to the Les Mousquetaires group (Intermarché), was sentenced on Monday to a fine of 21,500 euros for ill-treatment. A sentence greater than the requisitions of the prosecution, but deemed “weak” by the L214 association at the origin of the complaint.
Four employees or former employees of the slaughterhouse were sentenced by the Quimper criminal court to penalties ranging from a fine of 1,000 euros to six months in prison, suspended. They were prosecuted for “serious abuse or acts of cruelty” and “mistreatment” of an animal.
“Timelines to respect”
Suspended prison sentences of between 6 and 8 months and a fine of 500 euros were requested on May 18 against them. The four employees, three of whom had been dismissed after the fact, had in particular justified the ill-treatment by “the rates to be respected”.
A fine of 10,000 euros had been requested against the slaughterhouse represented at the hearing by its director. The company was prosecuted for “mistreatment”, as well as slaughtering in facilities and with non-compliant equipment and “without precautions” to prevent the animals from suffering. In addition, the slaughterhouse will have to pay 5,000 euros in damages to L214 and 1,000 euros to the animal defense association Stéphane Lamart. Both were civil parties.
“Weak” convictions
“The court went beyond the requisitions of the prosecution, which is encouraging. Nevertheless, these convictions remain weak, and there is little chance that they will dissuade other slaughterhouses from breaking the laws”, reacted in a press release Brigitte Gothière, co-founder of L124. The application filed by the association with the administrative court for “culpable deficiency of the State veterinary services” is still in progress, underlines the association.
The latter had broadcast images on May 4, 2021 showing sows pushed with kicks and electric prods, while they were dragging themselves on the ground. Others received stings in the anus or in the eyes in order to push them to move faster.