Shock as deer shot dead in Roundwood

THREE deer taking up residence in Roundwood as part of a children’s Christmas experience were killed overnight at the weekend and their carcases stolen.

The Sika deer, one male and two females, were secured in a pen and stood no chance of escape as they were slaughtered at close range.

The deer were part of the Santa’s Journey experience taking place at Djouce Golf Club since late November, where children are taken on an enchanted train journey through the likes of Candy Kane Land and the Elves Village.

Last Saturday morning, staff arrived to find the deer pen was empty and at first feared the animals may have escaped. However, a deer handler employed by the club to manage the welfare of the animals quickly realised something sinister had occurred. Blood covered the enclosure’s ground and there was also a trail which seemed to indicate the carcasses being dragged a distance before their bodies were removed from the scene. A bullet was also found lodged in a tree.

Gardaí were called to the scene and it is be- lieved whoever was responsible illegally entered the golf club then shot the deer from close-range from just outside their pen.

The deer were killed at some stage overnight from when the golf club closed on Friday night until staff arrive the following morning.

A vehicle was spotted in the vicinity of the golf club on Friday night, early Saturday morning, and its details have been passed on to the gardaí.

Santa’s Journey has so far been a resounding success at the nine-hole Djouce Golf Club and earned plaudits both locally and nationally. Club management and members are angered that the deer were targeted despite being such an important part of a kids’ event.

A garda spokesperson said: ‘We are taking this incident very seriously. It involves poaching, trespassing and the discharge of weapons in a public place.’

Anyone with any information regarding the shooting of the deer should contact Wicklow Garda Station at 0404 67107.

Meanwhile, Santa’s Journey continues at Djouce Golf Club this Saturday.