Grim discovery of dead lambs in Kilcarra Woods

THE NEW Year had barely been rung in when extensive dumping at an Arklow beauty spot was discovered.

Local walkers were shocked to stumble across the remains of seven dead lambs on Coillte lands at Kilcarra on the outskirts of the town on Monday.

‘Some of my neighbours were walking there with their children and their dogs and they noticed these dead lambs,’ said Cllr Mary McDonald who lives in the area.

‘ This area has been targeted by illegal dumping every week or 10 days for over two years now but the animal remains are a new development. It has to stop,’ she said.

Cllr McDonald said that on the day the lambs were noticed, matters were compounded by a new load of dumping at the gates into the woodland at Kilcarra.

‘ This isn’t household rubbish. It is old furniture, paint tins, and that sort of thing. This has nothing to do with the pay by weight issue because it has been happening for years now. It is such a shame to see all the good work of volunteers in nearby areas like Woodenbridge and Avoca, ruined by incidents like this,’ Cllr McDonald added.

The site was inspected by Wicklow County Council’s waste enforcement section on Tuesday and the matter has been reported to the Gardaí and to Coillte.

‘I imagine that the animal remains will have to be incinerated and disposed of appropriately. Meanwhile, the council will have to foot the bill for clearing up the rubbish. This is costing thousands of euro every year, which could be put to much better use.’

Cllr McDonald added that the lambs were marked which may assist in tracing the person responsible for dumping the remains.