Gardaí are investigating a dog attack in Co. Tipperary in which 45 sheep were killed and a further 20 animals were put down due to injuries.
The animals were found dead and injured on lands at Ballymacegan, Lorrha on the morning of Tuesday, December 27, An Garda Síochána confirmed.
Gardaí and the local dog warden attended the scene and enquires into the matter are ongoing.
Following the attack, the Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA) sheep chair, Kevin Comiskey has called for an emergency meeting with ministers this week.
The “horrendous attack” comes within weeks of the last two desperate attacks in Moneygall, Co. Offaly and in Moyvalley, Co. Kildare, Comiskey said.
He called for an emergency meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys to discuss the issue.
“This slaughter of animals on the farm, and the horrendous effect it has on family farms and everyone involved finding these animals scattered around the field slaughterd cannot continue.
“Incidents like this just can’t keep going on week after week. Time for talking is over. Action is needed now,” he said.
Dog attacks
The IFA sheep chair said he receives calls reporting a dog attack every week throughout the year – from two to three sheep, to seven and to 15 sheep.
He met with Minister McConalogue after the attack in Moneygall proposing a single national database, microchipping, sanctions, and enforcement at local authority level to tackle the issue.
A total of 48 lambs were killed in Moneygall, just a few days after 12 sheep were brutally attacked and killed by dogs in Co. Kildare.
Minister McConalogue must take ownership of this issue and sort it out immediately, the IFA sheep chair said.