The dumping of an animal carcass at a rural community venue where children were celebrating a First Holy Communion has been condemned as “abhorrent” and “sickening”.
Sinn Féin councillor Gael Gildernew has hit out after the body of an animal was discovered at Brantry Bard Community Centre, near Eglish, in an incident she said was effectively “an attack on the local community”.
Condemning those responsible, Cllr Gildernew said: “This is an abhorrent act and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
“The body of the animal was discovered by children who were attending a First Communion party.
“There is absolutely no place in our society for this despicable behaviour. Whoever is behind this sickening act must be brought to justice.
“I am calling on anyone who may have information to immediately contact the PSNI.”
The incident is the latest in a series of concerns raised locally about illegal dumping and the disposal of animal remains.
At the April meeting of Mid Ulster District Council, DUP councillor Mark Robinson highlighted what he described as an “ongoing issue” with fly-tipping in the Aughnacloy area and the dumping of animal carcasses in local watercourses.
Cllr Robinson told the meeting that rubbish was repeatedly being left on the street in the Dungannon Road area of Aughnacloy – where some properties “appear to be leaving rubbish on the side of the street” rather than using proper bins – and warned councillors that the situation was escalating.
“On the back of that, just last night I was contacted by another constituent who had been out on one of the local rivers and witnessed a number of carcasses of dead animals floating down the river,” he said.
“Again, until this Council starts taking action against this, people are going to continue to do it.”
Deputy Chair of Council, UUP councillor Denise Johnston, backed his call, describing the situation as “very worrying, and very unsightly and unhealthy as well”.
The latest discovery at Brantry Bard Community Centre has intensified calls from across the political spectrum for tougher enforcement and for anyone with information about those responsible for dumping carcasses or waste in rural communities and waterways to come forward.
