NI Badger Cruelty Uncovered

An animal welfare charity said it was shocked by the scale of organised badger persecution it has uncovered in Northern Ireland.

Speaking as the operation to disrupt the activity nears its climax, the USPCA's chief executive, Stephen Philpott, described the targeting of badger setts by gangs of men with dogs as the worst cruelty he had come across in more than two decades of working with animals.

He said: "You're talking about a huge number of setts being targeted right across Northern Ireland week in, week out".

Ulster Unionist Environment spokesperson Danny Kinahan has hit out strongly at the practice of Badger baiting.

The South Antrim MLA said: "The recent publicity on Badger bating highlights the need for immediate action to be taken to stop it and to prosecute those responsible and to ensure that they face the maximum permissible fines.

"I was shocked to learn that the USPCA has identified at least 20 organised gangs who engage in this illegal practice in Northern Ireland.

"Not only is this illegal, it is an incredibly cruel and barbaric past time, both for the dogs used and the badgers themselves. It causes great suffering for the animals involved and there is simply no excuse for it."

(LB)