Facing charges, hunter who posed with Scottish isle kills

AN AMERICAN woman TV host who sparked outrage after boasting online of shooting animals on a Scottish island could face criminal charges.

Larysa Switlyk, 33, from Sarasota, Florida, provoked anger in September after proudly posing for Instagram photos alongside her kills.

She had been holidaying on Islay and images of her with a ram, goat and deer, meat from which was cooked by hotel chefs, were posted. Many questioned the legality of her actions.

Police Scotland has confirmed Ms Switlyk, who also posts hunting photos of boyfriend Jason, has been reported for firearms offences. So too has an American man, aged 41.

Although hunting animals in season is not illegal on Islay, Ms Switlyk could face action under Section 11a of the Firearms Act, relating to how borrowed shotguns can be used.

Twisted

Police said in a statement: “Following several complaints of wild goat ‘trophy’ hunting on Islay in September, Police Scotland can now confirm that a 33-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man from the USA have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for firearms offences.”

MSP Michael Russell warned: “If this is actually happening on Islay and laid on by some sort of tour company, I would want to see it stopped immediately.”

The Scottish Government has said it will review the law governing animal culling since the pictures.

Famous names were also outraged by the images. Scottish tennis star Andy Murray’s mother Judy tweeted: “Stop this please.”

While BBC radio host Nicky Campbell, also a Scot, tweeted: “Please don’t take this the wrong way but you are a twisted sicko.”

In Scotland, it is legal to hunt red stags between July 1 and October 20, provided hunters use firearms, have a licence for their weapons and the permission of the landowner.

Wild goats and sheep are not protected by Scottish law and are often included by tour firms offering hunting parties.

On her website, Ms Switlyk describes herself as “a mixture of a tomboy and model” and “competitive, engaging and adventurous”.

Her TV show, Larysa Unleashed, aims to “enlighten and educate the general population about why people hunt and fish”. Larysa Switlyk with kills on Islay. Above, post in which she boasts of eating stag