The legal system has failed the hens once again. Almost one year since ALV's rooftop protest at an Egg Production Factory in Somerville, the Somerville 12 (pictured above) faced the Frankston Magistrate Court. All 12 were found guilty of "Refusing to Leave Private Place". Although no convictions were handed down, the activists were fined $1,000 each. Patty Mark stated after the trial "I have no intention of paying any fines incurred for peacefully trying to stop animal suffering." Meanwhile, over 30,000 hens (both caged and free range hens kept indoors) at the egg factory continue to suffer.
The hearing took two full days to complete at the Frankston Magistrates Court, on April 23rd and 24th. Showing no concern for the suffering of the hens at all, Magistrate Rod Crisp refused to watch any of ALV's shocking video footage from previous investigations at the farm in 2011. Mr. Crisp made many misguided comments about ALV's reasons for protesting on the roof of the egg farm, saying that it was a 'media stunt' which had targeted a 'normal business'. This without being willing to view any of the evidence that motivated the activists.
A manager of the farm told the full court that the hens in the sheds were completely normal and well, stating for the record that the only way she knows if a hen is unwell, is if the hen is a 'non-layer'. She also confirmed that the Department of Primary Industry Vet who examined the hens on the day spent only half an hour in one shed to examine the 18,000 hens confined in cages and took "a couple photographs". She didn't even bother to look at the other 10 - 15 thousand so-called free range hens kept in two adjoining sheds. This equates to examining 600 caged birds a minute or 10 birds every second. As ALV contends, DPI cruelty inspections (if and when they do occur) are cursory, inadequate and an insult to the long suffering hens. ALV made a Freedom of Information Request to obtain the vet's report from the day and this was refused.
Leading up to the rooftop protest, ALV carried out two investigations inside the caged hen shed on (February 23 and March 14, 2011), and also the farm's free range egg laying shed (March 22, 2011). In both the caged and free range sheds, ALV investigators found many dead birds as well as others who were sick and slowly dying. Hens suffered severe featherloss, debeaking and exposed red raw skin.
ALV President, Noah Hannibal stated, "We are not at all disheartened by this verdict, especially considering that the actions of these compassionate people resulted in millions of dollars worth of media coverage for the hens. ALV is more than ever determined to educate the public about the inherent cruelty of the egg industry."
ALV would like to thank the 12 activists for their bravery and determination in taking the cruel plight of laying hens to the rooftops, to the legal team Daniel Beecher and Irene Bolger for their time and help and to all the supporters who attended at court or sent in donations or messages of support. We are considering an appeal. A fund will be set up to raise money to help with legal costs.