Facing jail, gamekeeper caught on camera as he killed rare bird of prey
A GAMEKEEPER faces jail after being found guilty of killing protected birds of prey. George Mutch was secretly filmed catching raptors in bird traps while working on an estate.
Hidden cameras were set up by the RSPB as part of research into how Larsen and multi-catch traps were being used at Kildrummy Estate near Alford, Aberdeenshire.
The footage showed Mutch, 48, had killed a juvenile goshawk by taking it out of a trap and hitting it several times on the head with a stick.
The gamekeeper had placed a jack- daw and a jay in a decoy area of the Larsen trap to lure raptors into cages set up in pheasant pens.
He was filmed putting a buzzard and another goshawk in sacks on two other occasions in 2012.
Yesterday, Mutch told Aberdeen Sheriff Court he had used the jackdaw and jay as decoys to attract other small birds of the same type and stop them eating feed left for pheasants owned by the estate.
Mutch claimed to have killed the goshawk caught in the Larsen trap because he believed it to be seriously injured. He told the court: ‘I noticed the goshawk’s beak was a funny shape and I discovered the lower part of the beak was broken.’ Defence advocate Mark Moir asked: ‘Did that cause you any concern for the goshawk?’ He replied: ‘Yes, I didn’t think it would be able to feed, because raptors tear their prey. I thought the bird wouldn’t survive so I struck it with a stick. I noticed the bird twitching so I struck it again several times to make sure.’
Sheriff Noel McPartlin said the evidence pointed to a scheme of trapping birds of prey, adding that he believed the gamekeeper’s attempt to justify killing the goshawk was a ‘convenient lie’.
Mutch was convicted of using traps to capture wild birds and found guilty of three charges of intentionally or recklessly killing or injuring two goshawks and a buzzard.
The court heard he faces a possible jail sentence and sentence was deferred until next month.
A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said Mutch’s membership had been suspended. But on the matter of covert video evidence he added: ‘It should not be acceptable for individuals to be under surveillance in their place of work and to have their right to liberty and privacy from such encroachment removed.’
Environment Minister Dr Aileen McLeod said: ‘The behaviour highlighted in this case was extremely serious and I hope this conviction acts as a warning to others who think they can abuse Scotland’s wildlife with impunity.’
‘Part of the beak was broken’