Inverness actress Karen Gillan speaks out over pig farmer investigation
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Hollywood actor Karen Gillan has added her voice to outrage greeting revelations that a top Scottish pig farmer is being investigated for extreme cruelty to animals in his ownership.
The Inverness born and raised star of Guardians of the Galaxy, Jumanji and Dr Who expressed her disgust on Twitter after footage emerged of pigs being hammered to death and left in agony at the P&G Sleigh Pig Unit at Oldmeldrum in Aberdeen-shire.
Owner Philip Sleigh was, until last month, chairman of Quality Meat Scotland’s pig standard-setting committee. He has declined to comment.
Campaigning charity Animal Equality UK went undercover at the complex and claim to have captured graphic footage of pigs suffering severe injuries.
Some piglets deemed too small or weak were hammered to death or bludgeoned against a concrete floor, and potentially left suffering.
The Scottish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) has confirmed a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Ms Gillan’s tweet warned followers the details of the alleged cruelty at the farm was “very upsetting” and said that meat at the farm was sold to Tesco and Lidl.
She added: “I’m shocked and I wonder how we can go about getting stronger regulations on the treatment of animals.”
The group’s allegations are now being investigated. Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We will be submitting a report to the procurator fiscal based on information we received concerning breaches of animal welfare law at a farm in north-east Scotland.
“We are unable to comment further at this time.”
