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Police dog honoured for heroic actions after terror attack
“PD Mojo worked tirelessly through unimaginable scenes of destruction and utter chaos."
Mojo was first on the scene at Manchester Arena in 2017

A police dog that was first on the scene after the terror attack at Manchester Arena will be honoured with a PDSA Order of Merit this month.

British Transport Police dog Mojo helped to search the arena for potential secondary explosives in the aftermath of the attack last year.

Mojo and his handler PC Phil Healy had returned home after an early shift on 22 May 2017, when the news came through of an explosion at the Arianna Grande concert inside Manchester Arena.

The pair immediately made their way back to work and were the first dog team on the scene. Their first task was to search Victoria train station’s concourse, which was being used as the main area for treating casualties.

“Mojo searched around the injured victims to make sure that the area was safe and clear of further explosives, for the responding emergency services and the public,” PC Healy said.

Next they moved to the arena itself and the site of the explosion, working in horrendous conditions to secure the area.

PC Healy explained: “Mojo was working well but he was somehow different. It was as though he didn’t want to be there, among the carnage that surrounded him. But despite this he worked on, clearing the area so that the Firearms Unit could move out of the area safely.”

Mojo worked alongside his handler until 7am the following morning, and on their way home, they were called out again to follow up on reports of a suspicious item elsewhere. Mojo retired from police duties in August this year.

Commenting on Mojo’s award, PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin said: “PD Mojo worked tirelessly through unimaginable scenes of destruction and utter chaos. His role on the night was to make others safe - members of the public along with the responding emergency services, who each had their vital part to play.

“His dedication to duty, despite clearly being distressed by what he saw, makes him a deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.”

Mojo will receive his award at a special event later this month.

Image © PDSA
 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.