MoS leads otter killer to confess
A MAN has made a statement to the National Parks & Wildlife Service after the Irish Mail on Sunday published a story last week revealing that an otter had been shot dead.
The man met with members of the NPWS as a direct result of the article published in this newspaper.
According to sources, the man claims he shot the otter inadvertently. Gardaí and the NPWS are continuing to investigate.
The shooting happened in recent weeks near the Ballynatray Country Estate in Waterford. A source said: ‘This man came forward as a direct result of the article. He has made a statement saying he did it by accident and the matter is ongoing.’
Otters have been in Ireland since the Ice Age and are protected. However, water pollution, habitat destruction, road kills, fish traps, drainage works and vegetation clearance have all taken their toll on otter habitats. Under the Wildlife Act 1976, it is an offence to hunt, disturb or intentionally kill an otter.
The MoS also revealed that two red kites and buzzards had disappeared from the same country area. Gardaí and the NPWS are working together on this matter.
The buzzard has successfully reintroduced itself here over the last 10 years, with pairs of them often spotted around the country. It is a protected bird and hunting is illegal.
Superintendent Martin Walker urged members of the public to contact the gardaí straight away if they saw the capture or decoy of birds.
In a separate incident, gardaí are seeking a man and boy who were involved in the shooting of a buzzard in Carlow. The incident happened in Tinryland in late September when a woman saw them luring the buzzard with a distress call of a rabbit. As the bird flew over their car it was shot. The woman shouted at the man and boy and they fled in the silver car.