The Irish Wildlife Trust has called for a criminal investigation into the shooting of two grey seals near Tramore, Co Waterford, this week. The seals were discovered after they came to shore with severe injuries. They were found to have been shot in the head and had to be euthanised under veterinary supervision.
The animals are protected under the 1976 Wildlife Act and EU law, and their shooting was illegal, trust chairman Pádraic Fogarty said.
“Those responsible must be brought before the courts to demonstrate that the law will be upheld and such barbaric acts will not be tolerated,” he said.
“Too often in this country we see no regard for wildlife law,” he added.
