A NUMBER OF SHEEP were killed, and more injured, after an attack in a field in Co Down last night.
A spokesperson for the PSNI told TheJournal.ie that they are appealing for witnesses following an overnight attack at a farm in the Ballyholland area close to Newry.
Inspector Denise Graham said: “It was reported that sometime between 8:30pm last night and 8:00am today the sheep were attacked at Temple Hill Road.
Unfortunately, the owner arrived to find some had already been killed and some were then brought to a vet where they have since had to be put down. This was a quite brutal act and we would ask for the public’s assistance in dealing with it.
Eight sheep had their ears sliced while three others were stabbed in the throat during the incident, BBC News reports.
Three were dead upon discovery, and a further three were later put down.
Ruari McCartney, whose father runs the farm, told the BBC: “One of the neighbours who lives close to the field called my dad this morning.
It was just shocking. At first I thought it might have been a dog attack. But when I saw it, some of the sheep had their ears sliced off the whole way down, while others had just been cut.
“There are no grudges held around here, so I don’t understand who would have done this,” he added.
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