Dumped animal carcasses in rivers 'shameful' say litter pickers

Dumped dead animals are a "shameful, regular sight" in rural rivers and watercourses in parts of Northern Ireland.

Paddy Little, a litter picking officer for a waters sports club, said he has seen a number of carcasses in the Blackwater River that flows between counties Tyrone and Armagh.

He said members had pulled a bag from the water, only to find it stuffed with a sheep carcass. The agriculture minister has called for an end to the "veil of secrecy" surrounding animal dumping incidents.

Figures show there were almost 150 animal dumping incidents since 2020, but only 15 people have been convicted of wrongful disposal of animals offences in the last five years.

"A lot of the times we're out litter picking we would see some sort of dead animal in the water," Little from Blackwater Paddle Sports added.

"It's a biohazard and it's hugely unpleasant for the community that uses this river."

The tags which identify farm animals' owners are often removed when a carcass has been illegally dumped.

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has called for anybody with information on the illegal dumping of farm animals to contact authorities immediately.

"I'm aware the vast majority of farmers dispose of fallen livestock responsibly and many share my disgust, but this is wrong and we need to see people apprehended for it", he said.

Meanwhile the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) called on anyone illegally dumping farm animals to "stop it immediately" and follow proper procedures.

There are number of companies throughout Northern Ireland that will dispose of and process dead animals.

The carcass of one adult cow can cost on average between £80 to £100, this does not include any transportation charges.

UFU Deputy President Clement Lynch said: "Yes times are tight financially for farmers and dealing with dead livestock is an added cost, but that is no excuse for illegal dumping.

"It is probably a very small number carrying this out, but this has a big impact on the vast majority of farmers who take pride in looking after their stock responsibly."

BBC News NI has reported on a series of dumping incidents involving animal carcasses in the Mid Ulster area in recent months.

In April, a mother spoke of her horror after her son came across a number of dead lambs while out litter picking near the village of Cappagh.

Later that month, further concerns were raised after an illegal dumping ground, described as "an animal graveyard", was discovered just outside Augher near a newly built family home.

In the same month about a dozen lamb carcasses were dumped at the side of a roa