Cows and sirens…

I assume there is something more to this story than meets the eye, because otherwise it seems to me inexplicable and outrageous. A fireman, on his way to attend an emergency, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter because it is alleged that the sirens on his engine “spooked” a herd of cows which consequently trampled to death an elderly farmer, Harold Lee, aged 75. The Daily Mail’s version of the story carries a little more detail than the rest – to the effect that the fire engine at first turned off its sirens when it encountered Mr Lee and his son Richard moving the herd along a narrow lane on the Somerset levels. But then he turned the siren and lights back on again. I assume any more detail than that is sub judice.

What seems strange is that this story has been reported with the sympathy almost entirely on the side of Mr Lee’s family, who have been clamouring for prosecution (the event occurred some time ago). Justice must be done, etc. Menawhile, the name of the fireman has not been released and the local fire service has put out a terse statement saying he was on his way to an emergency. We should keep an eye on this one…