Give me Geronimo's ashes! Owner claims executed alpaca is being 'denied a funeral' after Defra officials 'incinerated' his body and now refuse to hand over his remains due to TB risk 

• Geronimo could be 'denied a funeral' because the Government is 'refusing to hand over his remains'
• Alpaca was removed from veterinary nurse Helen Macdonald's farm in South Gloucestershire on August 31
• Now conflicting conclusions from findings of initial post-mortem exam have been presented by each side
• Miss Macdonald says Defra has insisted on holding onto mammal's ashes for reasons related to TB infection
• The veterinary nurse said preliminary findings are 'negative for visible lesions typical of bovine tuberculosis'
• But Chief Veterinary Officer says 'a number of TB-like lesions were found' and more tests must now be done 

Geronimo is being 'denied a funeral' because the Government is refusing to hand over his incinerated remains, the alpaca's devastated owner alleged today.

Helen Macdonald claimed the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has insisted on holding onto the South American mammal's ashes due to the risk of contracting TB.

The alpaca was dragged from Miss Macdonald's farm in Gloucestershire last month by Government officials in boiler suits and facemasks - and dozens of police officers fending off animal rights campaigners - days before a court order to execute him lapsed.

Less than 90 minutes later, Defra confirmed that Geronimo - who had twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis but had refused a third test - was executed by staff from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, bringing a four-year legal battle to a close.  

Miss Macdonald was campaigning for the destruction to be halted after insisting the bovine tuberculosis tests previously carried out returned false positives. She had wanted him to be tested for a third time or allowed to live to aid research into the disease.

The veterinary nurse also argued that the Enferplex test was fundamentally flawed and said Geronimo tested positive because he had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin - a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Miss Macdonald alleged: 'They (Defra) incinerated the 'carcass' as they referred to him. They wanted me to arrange for him to be put to death so they could say I consented. They told me to tell them when he was dead so they could collect the 'carcass'.'  

The farmer believes that Geronimo should not have been led from her farm in Gloucestershire with a rope around its neck, but instead in a head collar, the paper added.

A Defra spokesman told MailOnline that Geronimo was euthanised by APHA in line with strict animal welfare policies. By law, any animal with a suspected TB infection must be disposed of properly and safely as part of rigorous and consistent disease control measures. 

It comes amid a row over whether Geronimo had bovine tuberculosis after Miss Macdonald claimed the initial findings of the post-mortem showed no signs of the disease. 

Miss Macdonald claimed that the preliminary post-mortem findings were 'negative for visible lesions typical of bovine tuberculosis'. However, the Chief Veterinary Officer said in a statement that 'a number of TB-like lesions were found'.

The farmer has called on Environment Secretary George Eustice to resign. 

Miss Macdonald received a copy of the preliminary findings of the examination from the Government's Legal Department after requesting the paperwork, and it was then reviewed by veterinary surgeons supporting her. 

Surrounded by her supporters in Westminster last weekamid a vocal demonstration, Miss Macdonald called on Mr Eustice to resign.

In a statement, her lawyers said: 'As reviewed by Dr Iain McGill and Dr Bob Broadbent, the preliminary gross post-mortem findings are negative for visible lesions typical of Bovine Tuberculosis.

'For clarity there are no white or cream caseous, enlarged abscesses typical for bTB in alpacas whether in the lungs, bronchial, mediastinal or retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

'Miss Macdonald has formally requested the full findings of the post-mortem report 'Form TB50', together with all relevant documents and the results of further tests on tissue samples, blood, serum or plasma taken or obtained from Geronimo, along with any further test results including Enferplex, Idexx, Actiphage and any other PCR or interferon gamma tests performed by Defra, along with the results of histopathogical examination.

'She has further requested that both fresh, frozen and formalin fixed tissue and fluid samples be preserved and provided to an independent expert to carry out further tests.'

The post-mortem examination was undertaken by veterinary pathologists from the Government's Animal and Plant Health Agency. 

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: 'We have completed the initial post-mortem examination of Geronimo. A number of TB-like lesions were found and in line with standard practice these are now undergoing further investigation.

'These tests include the developing of bacteriological cultures from tissue samples which usually takes several months - we would expect to complete the full post-mortem and culture process by the end of the year.' 

Speaking at the protest last week, Miss Macdonald said: 'We urge the Government to act with compassion and cooperation, which to date has been severely lacking, creating deep and unnecessary distress to Geronimo. 

'We call on the secretary of state to tender his resignation immediately.'

Miss Macdonald also vowed to fight for animal rights in 'honour' of Geronimo. She said: 'Geronimo was a blessing in my life. He touched the world. He was loved and precious to very many people and he lives on.

'I miss him. But I will do him the honour of fighting for him and making sure his legacy lives on for all animals.'

Yesterday, Miss Macdonald accused the Government of 'hiding the truth' over the killing of the animal just over a week ago. 

She said she had been denied knowledge of when, where and how Geronimo died - and had been refused an independent post-mortem examination.

Speakers at the protest at Defra's headquarters included vet Dr Iain McGill, animal welfare campaigner and writer Dominic Dyer and broadcaster and journalist Kevin O'Sullivan.

More than 27,000 cattle were slaughtered last year to curb the spread of the infectious disease, Defra said. 

Meanwhile, experts are vowing to take further action over the way Geronimo the alpaca was dragged from his pen and bundled into the back of a horse box to be driven away and killed by Government vets.

The British Alpaca Society wrote a letter of complaint to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Eustice and various Government officials over the way the animal was removed from his owner's farm.

Sue Loach, chairwoman of the British Alpaca Society, condemned the way Geronimo was removed from his pen, 'dragging him kicking and screaming', and then left tethered, standing up in the back of a trailer.

She said she has now received an unsigned reply from Apha, which stated: 'Removal operations were carefully planned, conducted and included consideration of Geronimo's welfare.

'Geronimo was transported under veterinary supervision. Veterinary surgeons were present at the loading and the unloading as well as travelling behind the trailer during its journey.

'We can assure you that Geronimo arrived at the destination in the same condition as when he left the farm, was unloaded and then euthanised in accordance with our welfare procedures.

'This was a difficult and high-pressure situation for all involved. We can assure you that our staff did all in their power to protect Geronimo's welfare and treat him with dignity.'