Mr Andrew Bagnall DipWCF and the FRC: High Court Judgement

On 30 and 31 October 2023 the Disciplinary Committee (DC) heard a complaint made against registered farrier Mr Andrew Bagnall DipWCF; the DC made findings of fact relating to the registrant punching and kicking a horse, found that the facts proved amounted to serious misconduct in any professional respect and applied a sanction of removal from the register with a direction that the registrant may not apply for restoration for at least 12 months.

Mr Bagnall lodged an appeal against both findings and sanction set out in five grounds of appeal within the permitted timeframe, and the sanction was therefore stayed pending judgement of the appeal.

The appeal was heard in the High Court on 17 July 2024 by Mr Justice Eyre sitting alone. At 1000hrs, 31 July 2024 the judgement was handed down; in sum, the Court directed that there was no substance in the grounds of appeal whether considered separately or cumulatively and the appeal was dismissed. The sanction shall take effect from 31 July 2024.

A copy of the judgment which is available to the public may be viewed below.