THE MOTIVE BEHIND the shock beheading of an Irish red stag yesterday in North Dublin parklands was likely to use the animal’s antlers as a “sick trophy”, a spokesperson for the Irish Deer Commission has said.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service and An Garda Siochána are investigating the discovery of a stag’s dismembered body at Newbridge Estate and Farm, Donabate, North County Dublin.

The parklands, which are managed by Fingal County Council, have been home to a herd of 16 Irish red deer, including the stag, for over 20 years.

Damien Hannigan, spokesperson for the Irish Deer Commission, an organisation which promotes efforts the management and conservation of wild deer, told The Journal he has never seen such a “brutal wildlife crime”.

“In over 30 years of involvement with deer, I’ve never seen someone behead an animal in a public park,” he said. “It’s a horrific crime and something we would condemn”.

Irish red deer are a protected species under The Wildlife Act 1976. There are strict regulations around the culling of the animal. Currently only 6,500 people in the country have the license required to do so.

Hannigan said that while wildlife crimes have taken place against wild deer in the past, it’s very unusual for a captive animal on private property to be attacked in this way.

“It’s essentially going onto a farm, and killing and beheading an animal,” he said.

Hannigan said that when wild deer are illegally killed it is usually by poachers who sell the meat to legitimate buyers – but as this stag’s body was left behind, its likely the attackers were only after its antlers.

“The evidence suggests the animal was solely killed for its antlers. The individual or individuals are intending to use antlers to display as a sick trophy,” he said.

He said wild deers have been beheaded occasionally in the past. As well as to take their antlers as a trophy, he said some people don’t understand the effort involved in moving a large stag, so there’s a possibility some did not have the equipment necessary to take more than the head. 

‘Depleted state’

Hannigan said antlers are usually only mounted by deer managers as a sign of respect to the animal. File photo of a mounted red deer head. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council described the attack in its parklands as “premeditated, while the Mayor of Fingal, councillor Tom O’Leary, described it as a ‘shocking act’.

Hannigan said that as breeding season has just finished, the stag would have been in a “depleted state”. Even in this state, he speculates that the reason the animal was shot was because its hunters couldn’t get close enough to kill it any other way.

He said taxidermists across the country have been warned to be wary of people asking for work done on the head of an Irish red stag.

As the deer was in the prime of its life and raised in captivity, Hannigan said its antlers would have been in “exceptional” condition.

Despite this, he thinks the people who committed the crime will have a hard time selling the stag’s head due to it being killed illegally and the lack of a market for antlers in Ireland.

Generally, he said antlers are only mounted by deer managers as a sign of respect to the animal after they die.

According to Hannigan, wildlife crimes against deer in Ireland generally happen for one of four reasons.

Either illegal hunters want to take antlers as a trophy, sell the venison for financial gain, carry on ancient traditions or think they are doing a good thing by killing deer.

He said there has been an increase of misinformation on deer in recent years, which has led to more illegal killings without financial motive, particularly in rural areas. 

The spokesperson urged the public to report any information they have on the crime to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and An Garda Siochána.

“Someone out there knows who did this”, he said. 

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is appealing for information and assistance from the public in relation to reporting any suspicious activity around the Newbridge Estate and Farm, surrounding areas and all approach roads from approximately 11pm Wednesday 26 November to 6am Thursday 27 November.

Reports of any suspicious activity during this time may be relevant. Reports may be made in confidence to the NPWS at WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie or phone 01 5393258, or to Swords Garda Station 01 6664700 or the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111.

Gardaí are also appealing for witnesses to come forward. 

They want anyone who was travelling in the vicinity of Newbridge Demesne between 12am and 2.30am on Thursday to contact the Garda investigation team.