Councillor expresses shock after coming across the remains of sheep, calves, and a cow at spot

Before making that grim discovery, other sightings of dead animals and/or carcasses had been reported to Kevin McElvogue, independent representative for Clogher Valley.

Referring to one report of animal remains being illegally dumped on the Altaglushan Road, between Killeeshil and Cappagh, Mr McElvogue said at last week’s environment committee meeting of Mid Ulster District Council: “I got a call about dead lambs found in several places along the [Altaglushan] Road, just thrown over the hedge into the sheugh.

“Now, I think there were maybe four in one bag. There were a couple of separate ones, and then there were remains of like a cow or something on up [on the Reclain Road].

“But then, yesterday evening again, I got called about another sheep up in Augher, dumped over the hedge as well. There were round bales, lots of stuff dumped over the hedge as well.”

Mr McElvogue revealed that he also came across a truly shocking scene at a rural location outside Augher, which he is not in a position to disclose as yet, as the matter is being investigated.

He told committee members: “I was at another site this evening – it was shocking. I have never seen anything like it in my life. It was like a graveyard.

“There was a cow, two sheep, and there were remains of sheep or calves, whatever they were, as well, and lots and lots of stuff. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and [yet] I’ve seen many sights.

“Can I propose, you see the agencies that deal with lifting dead animals off the road, the likes of a badger, fox, cats, dogs and calves – is there some way the council can put out a list of all the different contacts for people to phone, that we can be sharing out there with people?”

Mr McElvogue also called on the council to liaise with local schools, with a view to possibly raising awareness about littering on a weekly basis, and he praised young Scouts who had taken part in a litter pick in the weekend before Easter.

Assistant director of environmental services, Mark McAdoo, said the inclusion of contact numbers on the relevant web page would be considered.

“In relation to the collection of dead animals, the council is responsible for the collection of dead animals from the roadside and public property, but not from private property. That’s the landowner’s responsibility, unfortunately.

“Daera is not going to go in and lift a dead animal from a private landowner’s land [either].”

DUP councillor Mark Robinson explained that he too had been contacted about the illegal dumping of animal remains: “I was contacted as well about that dead sheep outside Augher, and I have notified the council of it.

“I was hoping it would have been collected at this stage. It is an issue, and it’s good to know that the council is responsible, because there’s also a deer lying on the Minterburn Road, out on the edge of the road as well, and it is a problem.

“There’s no doubt fly-tipping and dead carcasses tipped by the side of the road is a problem.”