Farmer hits out after damage by hunt

Farmer hits out after damage by hunt

22 February 2012 - by CIARA COLHOUN

A BALLYNAHINCH farmer is horrified after a stag hunt terrified hundreds of pregnant sheep on his land.

David Weir claims 10 of his sheep have aborted their lambs due to the shock of the incident, which happened last Thursday on land between Ballynahinch and Dromara.

He discovered extensive damage to fencing and land following the hunt, which he said had left flocks of his sheep in a distressed state.

He said they were reluctant to feed for two days following the hunt and he had since been unable to use his dog to work with them because of their reaction to the animal.

Mr. Weir said he believed the stag hunt had also posed a threat to road users on the Ballynahinch to Dromara Road at the time.

His complaint comes just one week after two Downpatrick neighbours complained about a fox hunt on lands at Ardglass Road, which left their pets frightened, and a fortnight after a Kircubbin woman’s pet cat was killed by a pack of dogs that were part of a similar hunt.

Mr. Weir said he did not think such activities should be allowed on private land and said he feared the impact the incident would have on his sheep during lambing season.

“We have already lost 10 lambs since this incident, but we will not know the full impact it has had until the sheep lamb at the end of March,” he said.

“I was shocked at the damage to fences and by the fact that our sheep could have run onto a road through the gaps left behind.

“If one of our sheep caused an accident on the road, we would be held responsible which seems very unfair.

“Hunting like this is a disgrace.”

Mr. Weir accepted that the huntsmen had returned to repair damage to fencing but said there was a period of time when the sheep could have escaped.

“It does not seem right that this can happen on land where animals are being kept without the permission of the person keeping those animals,” he said.

“This is something we could do without.”

Mr. Lyall Plant, from the Countryside Alliance Ireland, speaking on behalf of the County Down Staghounds, confirmed the hunt had taken place in the area and accepted there had been damage to fencing.

He said workmen returned to the area three times to repair this damage, which was completed by the following day.

“The hunts will not harm sheep,” he said.

“Sheep will run away to a corner and pack together away from any sense of danger.

“Repairs were carried out to the fencing and land.”