RSPCA accused of causing grandfathers suicide.

Inspectors and police seized 102 wild horses and Shetland ponies from a yard and a Lake District beauty spot in July.

Two were in such a poor condition they had to be put down. The rest, including a number of foals, were painfully thin and suffering neglect.

The owner, Alan Brough, 68, a retired builder, was arrested and held at a police ­station in Carlisle.

His family claim that when he was released six and a half hours later without charge he was in a “trance-like” state.

He drove to the nearby St Ninian’s Church, in Brougham and hanged himself. His 18-year-old grand-daughter found him there, by the River Eamont.

His widow Kathleen and four daughters want to sue the animal charity. One daughter, Kathleen Michie, said: “We’re in talks with the RSPCA through solicitors.


“We’re trying to prove that its actions led to Dad’s death.”

Despite a wealth of damning evidence of neglect, friends and family say the horses were Mr Brough’s “life”.

They say the grandfather-of-nine took hay and grass to his animals on Caldbeck and Uldale Common every day at 5.30am.

He had bought them for his daughters but then turned them out when the girls outgrew them. Over the years the horses became a tourist attraction.

James Irving, chairman of Uldale Commoners Association, said: “We are upset and furious at the way the RSPCA handled this. Everyone living round here is in shock.”


He told of a two-year castration programme Mr Brough had undertaken to keep the animals’ numbers down, in liaison with landowners the Lake District National Park Authority. He said “everyone” was happy with the programme, adding: “We’re all farmers round here, we know when something is suffering and these ponies had a happy life.”

The case has become a cause-celebre with campaigners known as “The Self-Help Group”, who say they are combatting “RSPCA persecution”.

An RSPCA source dismissed the group’s claims that it persecutes groups like farmers as “ridiculous”.

In a statement the RSPCA and other charities said: “All the organisations involved were saddened to hear about Mr Brough’s death and have expressed our deepest condolences to his family.”


It stood by the raid, however, detailing the animals’ suffering. The statement went on: “Many of the horses and ponies were thin, had badly overgrown hooves, leg and hoof ­deformities causing them pain and discomfort, lice and worms or painful and diseased teeth.

“Some had noticeable deformities of the skeleton which left them in pain or unable to keep up with the group and get enough grazing and water.”

Last night the Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Brough’s death just hours after he had been in custody.

The rescued horses are now receiving veterinary care in animal sanctuaries in Bristol, Blackpool, Durham, Burton Upon Trent and Norfolk.


Last month’s operation was aided by the British Horse Society, World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, and the HorseWorld Trust.

Admin - where did you pull this from - it rings some bells as being very familiar - if it is recent then its new and yet another RSPCA related suicide they should have on their concience if they had one of course!

If we have to spell it out then so be it - any of you thinking of suicide having been the victiim of hte RSPCA please post a letter to a national paper claiming as much and leave a copy attached to you for when they find you...... One day someone will put two and two together - are animals that are likely to suffer (ie not suffering now) worth more than the suffering and death of a human???? Personally I prefer animals every time - they dont shit on you metaphorically speaking even if they do literally! However, I fail to see that an animal who is not in danger from abuse can be put above the life of a human being - or does it have to b a number of animals to make that human life the equivalent value??? - Maybe 102 is enough............. If it is the story I have seen previously, then I am led to believe the ponies were returned after the poor mans death anyway.......

millie1* wrote:Admin - where did you pull this from - it rings some bells as being very familiar - if it is recent then its new and yet another RSPCA related suicide they should have on their concience if they had one of course!  

If we have to spell it out then so be it - any of you thinking of suicide having been the victiim of hte RSPCA please post a letter to a national paper claiming as much and leave a copy attached to you for when they find you......  One day someone will put two and two together - are animals that are likely to suffer (ie not suffering now) worth more than the suffering and death of a human????  Personally I prefer animals every time - they dont shit on you metaphorically speaking even if they do literally!  However, I fail to see that an animal who is not in danger from abuse can be put above the life of a human being - or does it have to b a number of animals to make that human life the equivalent value??? - Maybe 102 is enough.............  If it is the story I have seen previously, then I am led to believe the ponies were returned after the poor mans death anyway.......

I am quite sure it came from The SHG as do most of my `findings` on here.