DEAR SIR: I refer to your letter, published on Thursday 3 August 2017 entitled Concern at UFU court case. The Ulster Farmers’ Union made clear from when this particular case began that the judicial review (JR), involving its former president, Ian Marshall, was taken as it offered the best chance of success.

We had wanted for some time to challenge a finding of intent arising from a pollution incident. The case was not taken because it involved a UFU president.

We had previously looked at similar cases with other members, but had decided they were not sufficiently strong to challenge through a JR and indeed our action was clearly justified when the court ruled in favour of the UFU’s position.

We knew from the start that a JR would be a time-consuming and costly process and therefore was not entered into lightly. We have mounted similar challenges on other issues in the past to secure a precedent that would apply to all members, and would do so again.

We have already provided significant assistance to Mr Murnion on a case relating to young farmers and would underline to all UFU members that whether or not a case ends up in court, every UFU member has our support and assistance if we feel they are being treated unfairly.