‘Horrific’ scene with swans left mutilated

‘Horrific’ scene with swans left mutilated

29 October 2025

CALLS have been issued for greater protection of the district’s wildlife after two swans were mutilated in a brutally savage attack at the Quoile river in Downpatrick last week.

The swans were targeted in two attacks over consecutive days with the heads of the birds ripped off.

Walkers who came across the distressing scene were visibly upset and an angler who was visiting the area believes the swans were attacked by a large animal and that a fox was “almost certainly not responsible” given the nature of the injuries.

Gruesome images of the injured birds sent to the Down Recorder are too graphic to reproduce.

The bird attacks were reported to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Environment Agency and Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Local politicians say everyone should be concerned about the incident at the Steamboat Quay area as swans are a protected species and such precious wildlife needs to be protected.

Angler Kieran Morrissey – who was visiting from Dublin – said he was shocked at what happened at an area he described as “one of the most beautiful in the world”.

He arrived at the river late last Tuesday night and thought what later transpired to be one of the dead swans was a white bag of rubbish.

To his horror the following morning, he realised it was a swan and local people who walk in the area and had gathered round, looking on in disbelief.

“People were very upset at the distressing scene they came across,” he said. 

“The swan had been mutilated and one of the walkers then showed me the carcass of another bird which had been attacked a day earlier.”

Mr Morrissey said the swan that was lying on the ground close to the water’s edge looked in otherwise perfect condition.

He said there was a trail of blood from the water through reeds and over to where one of the swans was, leading him to believe the bird was possibly killed in the water and then dragged out.

“I have fished all over Ireland and never seen anything like this before,” he said.

“What happened was truly horrific and maybe consideration could be given to deploying trail cams at the river to see what is going on and what attacked the swans,” suggested Mr Morrissey.

“I believe it was a large animal that targeted the swans which are formidable creatures and will protect their area. They are lovely animals but can be vicious and while very powerful and beautiful, they can defend themselves.”

Mr Morrissey added: “This attack was absolutely not carried out by a fox. It would need a very big animal to take down a swan.”

South Down MLA Colin McGrath, has raised the issue with DAERA asking the government department what action is being taken to address what he described as “these concerning developments” and to protect the swans.

Mournes councillor, Jill Truesdale, who submitted details of the incident to the Environment Agency, said the swan attack is an issue all elected representatives should be concerned about.

“Swans are a protected species and many people use the Quoile towpath to take enjoyment out of being in nature and watching the wildlife,” she said.

“I’ve been in touch with the local council regarding land ownership and understand, as with most places, there is a jigsaw puzzle of who is responsible. Obviously, in cases like this it would be good to see all agencies working together to ultimately provide protection to wildlife.”

Cllr Truesdale said the Downpatrick river towpath runs along a space where wildlife has little legal protection, appealing to dog owners to always have their pets on a lead.

“This will require signage and enforcement and, as a dog owner myself, I understand why some will disagree but, ultimately, we are entering the swans’ home not vice versa,” she said.

“Regardless of how well trained a dog is, there are times when deep rooted natural instincts take over. It is much better to have preventative measures in place to avoid the awful pictures we saw over the weekend.”