Family filmed hacking up animal carcasses in their garden sparks hygiene probe

[Ulquiorra]

A FAMILY filmed hacking up animal carcasses in their back yard are being investigated in a hygiene probe.

Neighbours alerted environmental health officials after the raw meat was chopped up on a tarpaulin.

It is not known if the family — celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice — slaughtered the animals at home or were simply butchering them.

Julia McClenaghan, 62, whose flat overlooks the yard in Dagenham, Essex, said: “It seems one of the least hygienic places to prepare meat, and they were using an old rag to wipe their tools.”

A woman living at the property confirmed yesterday they had been butchering for Eid but denied any wrongdoing.

Sun columnist Anila Baig said Muslim families traditionally sacrifice a goat or sheep and divide it into portions for Eid al-Adha.

But she added: “In this day and age, it’s extremely unusual for someone to do this themselves at home.

Usually it’s done for them by a butcher.”

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, insisted the family had done nothing wrong in practising their religion.

Barking and Dagenham Council said it was investigating.