Council seek information after ‘callous’ beheading of stag at Newbridge Demesne

A council in the Republic of Ireland is appealing for information after a deer was “brutally” decapitated.

Fingal County Council has issued an appeal for information after workers on Thursday found the headless body of the stag, which was part of a herd at Newbridge Demesne in Donabate, County Dublin.

The buck’s head was removed from the field and staff say they have no doubt it was taken as a trophy, Irish broadcaster RTE reports.

Gardai (Irish police) confirmed that they are investigating an alleged incident of wildlife crime.

“It was killed overnight (Wednesday) by trespassers who had broken into the park. It was discovered when staff had gone to feed a herd of Irish red deer,” Fingal County Council said in a statement.

The reindeer, who was eight years old, was one of two in the herd.

The deer killing is also being investigated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Mayor of Fingal, Councilor Tom O’Leary, condemned the murder.

He said: “I have visited this park area with my granddaughters who really enjoyed meeting the deer and the deer. A wonderful animal to see up close.

“It’s truly shocking that someone would commit this act,” he said.

“I am appealing to anyone with information to contact gardaí or the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Killing deer without a license is illegal and I hope the culprits can be brought to justice.”

Ivan Smith, Foreman of Works at Newbridge House and Traditional Farm, said the team were “absolutely shocked” by the incident.

“He was a lovely deer with beautiful antlers and was a great favorite with the park visiting public.”

Ireland’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) expressed “horror” at the attack.

Pat Watt of the NSPCA said, “The unnecessary killing of such a majestic creature for a trophy is appalling.”

“The NSPCA hopes that perpetrators of this type of crime will be caught and prosecuted with the full force of the legal system. Animal abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances.”

Area councilor Eoghan Dockrell told BBC News NI he was “shocked”.

“A common reaction from everyone I’ve talked to in the community is that they’re frustrated and scared,” he said.

He said he had “a lot of sympathy for those staff members who must have had to come to that scene and how distressing that must have been”.

He said, “I have been in contact with council officials to see if they will review security procedures at the park and while there is a lot of patrolling being done during the day, we are going to see if we can increase patrolling at night.”

Anyone with any information should report it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fingal County Council or their local Garda station.

Gardaí (Irish police) also said they wanted to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, of the area around the R126 road, Cobbe Lane and Turvey Avenue, Newbridge Demesne, between 00:00 and 02:30 local time on Thursday, to make it available.