Farmers have expressed disappointment and concern at a legal ruling in favour of a walker hurt when she was attacked by cows as she crossed a field.

Shirlie McKaskie was seriously hurt in Cumbria in 2003 and a judge has ruled the farmer was liable because he had not properly considered the risk.

Ms McKaskie is claiming £1m damages but farmer John Cameron is appealing.

Dairy farmers said so many fields were open to walkers that such incidents would occur from time to time.

The vice chairman of the Royal Association of Dairy Farmers, David Cotton, expressed his disappointment at the ruling.

"The number of footpaths we've got across this country - and more and more access is being made available to walkers - it's one of those situations that's going to occur from time to time," he said.

"I mean there are some parts of the country now where [farmers] can no longer put cattle in fields because the footpaths are used so much.

"If you think around some of the larger towns where footpaths are on the edge of towns, some of those fields they've already had to take cattle out of."

The full story available from here : BBC NEWS | UK | Cow attack sparks damages concern

What a ridiculous ruling!! People who use footpaths on private land, especially where there are cattle or other farm animals around, should be perfectly aware that there's a potential risk, in particular (as in the case of this stupid woman) where they've got dogs with them. I sincerely hope that the farmer concerned wins his appeal. As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another instance of the lack of personal responsibility and 'sue me' culture so permeating our modern society.

Originally Posted by Midas

Farmers have expressed disappointment and concern at a legal ruling in favour of a walker hurt when she was attacked by cows as she crossed a field.

Shirlie McKaskie was seriously hurt in Cumbria in 2003 and a judge has ruled the farmer was liable because he had not properly considered the risk.

Ms McKaskie is claiming £1m damages but farmer John Cameron is appealing.

Dairy farmers said so many fields were open to walkers that such incidents would occur from time to time.

The vice chairman of the Royal Association of Dairy Farmers, David Cotton, expressed his disappointment at the ruling.

"The number of footpaths we've got across this country - and more and more access is being made available to walkers - it's one of those situations that's going to occur from time to time," he said.

"I mean there are some parts of the country now where [farmers] can no longer put cattle in fields because the footpaths are used so much.

"If you think around some of the larger towns where footpaths are on the edge of towns, some of those fields they've already had to take cattle out of."

The full story available from here : BBC NEWS | UK | Cow attack sparks damages concern

What a ridiculous ruling!! People who use footpaths on private land, especially where there are cattle or other farm animals around, should be perfectly aware that there's a potential risk, in particular (as in the case of this stupid woman) where they've got dogs with them. I sincerely hope that the farmer concerned wins his appeal. As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another instance of the lack of personal responsibility and 'sue me' culture so permeating our modern society.

What a moooooving story