Beach 'littered with dead lambs'

THE gruesome aftermath of the recent ice storm which saw thousands of lambs being killed was apparent at Ballycastle beach, a councillor said.

Cllr Cathal Newcombe (Sinn Fein) said many dead lambs were discovered lying on the local strand.

"Some of the lambs could be found in Ballycastle Beach. It was littered with dead lambs over the last couple of weeks, washed down the river," he added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And Cllr Willie Graham (Ulster Unionist) said he knows of one farmer who lost 50 lambs due to the extreme weather ice blizzard.

He said it was a "very very hard blow" for the farming community and, speaking at a meeting of Moyle Council on April 12, he said many farmers wanted to see a compensation package put in place.

The Glens has one of the most concentrated populations of lambs and sheep in the whole of Northern Ireland and the effects of the severe conditions were badly felt there.

Moyle Council Chairperson, Cllr Cara McShane (Sinn Fein), said Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew was due to meet fellow Minister Sammy Wilson to discuss some sort of package for farmers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Moyle Council agreed to contact the Department of Agriculture on the issue.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein councillor Paudie McShane said part of a lane in the Dunamallaght area was "washed away" by flood waters.

And Ulster Unionist councillor Helen Harding said there was a problem with signs after a pole fell at the junction of Dunamallaght Road and Glenshesk Road.

Related topics: