By Claire McCormack

The children’S HEARING system is the best way to deal with the three boys charged with attacks at Camperdown Wildlife Centre, according to a prominent animal rights campaigner.

Despite demands from members of the public and officials in Dundee and further afield for the suspects be tried in public, Advocates For Animals campaigns director Ross Minett feels the children’s hearing system is the fairest method of trial.

The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration has less than 50 days to decide whether the boys, aged 11, 13 and 14, will appear before a children’s hearing and, if so, when.

If a hearing goes ahead the public cannot attend, and a decision will be made regarding what the press can report.

“While the only knowledge I have of this case is what I have read in the newspapers, the children’s hearings system seems to be the best way to deal with it,” Mr Minett said.

He said that the hearings system is able to gain an understanding of children’s backgrounds, needs and difficulties, and any previous exposure they may have had to violence and abuse, either from or to humans or to animals.

If allegations are substantiated he said it may be possible to address the cruelty that occurred on that night, perhaps involving psychiatric or psychological assessment and a variety of therapeutic approaches.

He added that anyone who carried out such attacks “clearly need help.”

A hearing would also be able to consider fully whether the alleged attackers still posed any danger to themselves, or people or animals in the community.

Mr Minett said that, while Advocates For Animals deplored the suffering inflicted during the attack on July 2—a deer was slashed with a craft knife, otters were beaten with stakes and a terrapin was killed—various things should be considered when dealing with suspects in a case like this.

“We acknowledge that children’s cruelty to animals arises from complex sources and cannot be simply addressed by a punitive approach,” Mr Minett said. “This issue must be tackled holistically.

“We urge the teaching of respect and humane treatment of animals within the school curriculum.

“We also question the keeping of animals captive in the unnatural setting of zoos and other animal exhibitions, where their own natural behaviours are denied and where humans cannot truly learn about their amazing qualities.

“Such attractions can perpetuate an outdated climate of human dominance over animals and the belief that animals are at our disposal to treat as we wish.”

He believed the public interest regarding this specific attack would be best served by addressing the cruel behaviour, but not by uncovering the identities of the young people allegedly involved.

“In the longer term our educational system and wider society must evolve to encourage respect and compassion towards all living beings,” he added.

Following the attacks, Advocates For Animals called for the closure of Camperdown Wildlife Park, claiming it should not stay open if the safety of exhibits and the public could not be guaranteed.