Three grey seals and a dolphin were found dead on Tramore Beach, County Waterford, with “horrific” gun wounds.
On Wednesday, the BBC reported that Irish police are investigating the crime. The first two seals discovered on the beach were euthanized by the Waterford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) along with local vets.
Johnny Woodlock from the Irish Seal Sanctuary released a statement. He said, “The Irish Seal Sanctuary was horrified to learn that adult grey seals were coming ashore dying from bullet wounds to their heads. The first, a mature bull seal, had been shot with what appears to be a .22 bullet to the head.”
On Thursday evening, Woodlock released an up-dated statement on their website. He said, “another seal in a similar condition has come ashore today along with a dead dolphin, both displaying wounds similar to those of the first two seals.”
The group said these animals were shot illegally with an authorized shooting license.
Woodlock said these animals should have been killed with a humane killing device, one which kills the animal outright, which they are not opposed to.
The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) said the protected animals were shot near Tramore on Tuesday, 21st February.
They said, “These animals suffered a horrible death having swam ashore with awful head injuries…The IWT is now calling for a full investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Gardaí into this illegal act. Those responsible must be brought before the courts to demonstrate that the law will be upheld and such barbaric acts will not be tolerated."
Woodlock said the Irish Seal Sanctuary “understands that some fishermen are calling for a cull of seals but no-one can condone such a cruel and illegal act, exposing the public to a dying seal on a public beach is certainly not the way to achieve public support for fishermen’s interests.
“The Irish Seal Sanctuary is actively working with Fishermen’s organizations in an attempt to resolve conflicts between fishermen and seals. The Irish Seal Sanctuary has never opposed the properly authorized and licensed killing of individual seals, carried out in the authorized manner.”
He continued “Whoever is responsible for this illegal act in Tramore is acting against the interests of all responsible fishermen and firearms certificate holders and cannot be defended. We hope the authorities who are investigating this get all as assistance from the public to bring the offender to account.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.irelandmusic | Jun 09, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT
I pray these punks go to JAIL.
ciaradexy | Feb 26, 2012, 09:08 AM EST
The article states they were 'shot illegally' not authorized like you said.
ciaradexy | Feb 26, 2012, 09:06 AM EST
KerryL, are you vegan? How do you think meat gets onto your plate?
KerryLKing | Feb 25, 2012, 03:51 PM EST
The article stated about "authorized" killing of these animals. Why is there "any type of killing" of these innocent animals. Makes one pause and think ....maybe I should totally bypass "Waterford" for any future travels. Why put my money into an area of the country that allows this type of horrible behavior. Disgusting...just absolutely disgusting what humans will do to poor innocent animals. Should be totally ashamed of yourselves....and those who allow it!!!
sirpeter | Feb 25, 2012, 12:31 AM EST
Three seals and a dolphin.Massive Irish wildlife crime shocka.Will ye ever fu*k off!! Look at the millions of animals that were killed by BP in the Gulf of Mexico.A few seals and dolphin and it's Irish news.So when is the open season on the Georgie Dillion family? If it's all year round the cull amount isn't enough.
ciaradexy | Feb 24, 2012, 04:07 PM EST
georgina, its funnier youre getting! I'll do all of that if you promise to get yourself a personality and a life!
GeorgeDillon | Feb 24, 2012, 03:50 PM EST
Curdexter-Careful next time you go to the beach in Ireland. Don't wear dark colors--you might be mistaken for a beached seal. And you might want to shave that facial hair!
EphraimKibbey | Feb 24, 2012, 03:06 PM EST
I guess I am missing something here? The article says: "The group said these animals were shot illegally with an authorized shooting license." Who authorized this kind of action? Is this kind of stuff happening on American fishing banks? Where is PETA on this "authorized" torture/murder?
ciaradexy | Feb 24, 2012, 02:55 PM EST
Sean, get over yourself! What are you smoking? Have you ever even been to ireland? its not the 1700s anymore! its like the rest of the developed world now! Georgie, I heard about that poor kid in the US whose dad made him run naked in the snow and another little girl died yesterday after her mam made her run for 3 hours after she lied over eating a bar of chocolate. And you call the irish cruel?
Sean Sheehan | Feb 24, 2012, 01:32 PM EST
At one time all nature was sacred in Ireland, seals included. I guess as Ireland gets more European, it becomes more seperated in time and space from the connectedness to the natural world, and that is the part of my ancestry I find most attractive.
RedBranch | Feb 24, 2012, 01:18 PM EST
I suspect a selkie love triangle gone wrong. In seriousness a bull grey is a truly majestic beast and this story did not get the coverage it deserves.
antoman | Feb 24, 2012, 11:17 AM EST
That's a waste. What with people subsisting on free EU cheese. Why were'nt they eaten?
SeamusMor | Feb 24, 2012, 11:02 AM EST
CelticQueenUSA is right! A curse upon the head(s) of the killers of innocent animals! Remember the fate of "The Bull McCabe" in "The Field"
CelticQueenUSA | Feb 24, 2012, 10:28 AM EST
May their nets be empty each time they go fishing. This is an official Celtic Curse on those fiends.
badolan | Feb 24, 2012, 10:23 AM EST
I am a gun rights advocate and this kind of misuse of a firearm makes all gun owners look horrible and irresponsible. This is a shocking and despicable act. I hope they catch those responsible and they get what they deserve.
merefalow | Feb 24, 2012, 10:02 AM EST
there isn't enough fish,yes there is,but they are so greedy for money,so they have to kill the creatures that have more right to the fish than they,there are enough fish,but they want to make even more money so they build false fish tubes,doctor the scales,have false fish holds,in frauds running into millions,ignore quotas,defraud tax,etc etc,but still begrudge the fish the dolphins and seals need for survival.if they were not controlled the greedy b,,,,,,,would fish to extinction,they have almost destroyed the most prolific breeding fish the cod,control them fine them.
beaumax99 | Feb 24, 2012, 09:51 AM EST
There is animal abuse all over the world and more then I care to know about, right here in the United States. I agree with beachcomber and go one step further when I say that all abusers should be made to pay a very hard and high price for their unaceptable and cruel actions. People like that are obviously demented.
GeorgeDillon | Feb 24, 2012, 08:32 AM EST
I don't know how often I have pointed out on this site that there are countless cases of egregious animal abuse in Ireland. I urge all American animal lovers to boycott Ireland. Write to the Irish Tourist Board and say you won't be visiting Ireland until that country stops its horrific abuses. It might work--all the Irish think about is money.
beachcomber | Feb 24, 2012, 07:47 AM EST
How incredibly awful. I understand that seals and dolphins do make a mess of fishing nets but come on, we're encroaching on their natural habitat and they need to eat, too. No reason to shoot them in the head and leave them for dead, when they're obviously NOT dead. This is beyond cruel.