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Two seals’ heads nailed to Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary entrance

Gruesome discovery in County Kerry suspected protest by fishing community

KERRY O’SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, June 8, 2012, 8:05 AM

Updated Friday, June 8, 2012, 8:05 AM

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Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary in Co Kerry

Photo by Journal.ie

A gruesome discovery outside the main entrance to the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary in Co Kerry Thursday morning has triggered a gardai (police) investigation. A passerby notified authorities when he saw two seals’ heads nailed to plaques outside the main gate of the sanctuary.

The Irish Times reports on the upsetting find. The heads of two common harbor seals, who are estimated to be six months old, were nailed to boards that bore the phrases “RIP Cull” and “RIP - I am Hungry” in red paint that resembled blood.

“It was sickening,” said Ally McMillan, animal manager at the Sanctuary.

“We were very worried,” added McMillan, “because we have two seals here at the moment that are about ready to be released, but it wasn’t them.”

While the matter is still under investigation, authorities fear it may have been done by people who want the sanctuary to close and believe seals are destroying the local fishing waters.

Eco tours and cruises to spot seals, whales and the country’s most famous dolphin Fungie are a popular draw for visitors to Dingle Bay.

The heads and plaques have since been removed as the investigation is continuing.

Nster.com

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 09, 2012, 09:32 AM EDT

There has been a scam going on for quite a few years now in which Dingle claims to be a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) area. This entitles its inhabitants to a number of financial benefits. The reality however is that Dingle, and the countryside around it, is quite monolingual--English. I think I alluded to this on this site previously, when I was shouted down by the usual chorus of Know Nothings (sirpeter, oloingsigh etc). But note that the thugs and animal abusers who committed this vile act wrote their garble in English, not Irish!

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dingle999 | Jun 09, 2012, 08:36 AM EDT

RIP Cull” and “RIP - I am Hungry.Sounds reasonable to me. I live in Dingle and 99% of people including fisherman thought the act of beheading seals and nailing them to an entrance of a building utterly disgraceful . Also the religious references R.I.P and painted crosses show the perpetrators have little humanity.....

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 09, 2012, 02:25 AM EDT

Who is surprised? The Irish have a terrible record on animal cruelty and abuse, worst in Europe.

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pilib04 | Jun 08, 2012, 09:09 PM EDT

Bythebay and Redbranch, to be precise, Martin Ferris is one of the three TD's for Kerry North-West Limerick. Kerry South is the constituency that you are looking for when discussing Dingle, Kenmare, Kilarney, etc. Current TD's are Brendan Griffin FG, Tom Fleming Ind. and Michael Healy-Rae Ind. Of course, if you were politically astute or lived in the Republic, you would both know this. Since you are neither, it's quite reasonable that you do not.

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sirpeter | Jun 08, 2012, 08:39 PM EDT

This Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary with their goody goody free labour teenage volunteers are probably bad mouthing every local fisherman in Dingle who want to cull the seals.They tear holes in nets ect.Seals are not an endangered species and they compete with small local fisherman who are trying to make a living to feed their families.Why save seals? Why not stick to saving the other wildlife.I'll tell you why!!Because seals are cute looking and they are making money from tourists going in there and by getting people to adopt seals.Money money money.They need a supply of baby seals at all times.They also have a cafe and all staff are volunteers.Somebody is making money and from what I can see it's the seals are the big attraction. RIP Cull” and “RIP - I am Hungry.Sounds reasonable to me.Give the local fisherman a cut from the profits and work together.I'm with the local fisherman/men who sent the message.I respect nature and animals of every kind.But I hate most "animal lovers".Especially single dog owners in urban areas.A dog is a pack animal and needs company.If you have just one dog.Then you are satisfying your desires and not your pet.Fact.

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wdwrkr371 | Jun 08, 2012, 05:06 PM EDT

I'm from north kerry and this is not "Typical behavior from local lunatics who inhabit the Dingle Peninsula". I swear eighty percent of you people who post on here should legally be banned from owning a computer, ye only come on here to argue(there's a difference from debate) and insult. Bile and bitterness rule with most of you people.

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Sparklet | Jun 08, 2012, 11:12 AM EDT

Horrible. Anyone who can do this, won't stop at animals. As an aside, why is it necessary to put 'police' after Gardai?

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Bythebay | Jun 08, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT

Gunrunning, IRA Provo Ferris is silent on this issue. No doubt too busy renting out his holiday home for a few extra quid.

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RedBranch | Jun 08, 2012, 10:30 AM EDT

"Mr Ferris as local TD you must be outraged and want those responsible to be aprehended and face the full force of the law?" Lets how what the former gunrunner, fisherman and confident of cop killers answers....

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carrickcourt | Jun 08, 2012, 09:22 AM EDT

Sick.

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