Congratulations Annette!

In an unusual story the NPWS reports a prosecution for the poisoning of birds in nearby county Meath: "The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley T.D. has today (30/4/2009) welcomed the successful outcome to a prosecution taken by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of his Department in Navan District Court on Wednesday 22nd of April 09.
In November 07, Conservation Ranger Annette Lynch investigated a complaint of dying rooks in a field at Headfort Demesne. She found dead and dying rooks and bread laced with a blue substance in a recently tilled field. As she collected the rooks and bait she was challenged by a man, who appeared to be the landowner. When she identified herself and told him what she was doing he stated that he was not the landowner, had no interest in the land and refused to give his name and address. She took his registration number and traced it to defendant. She brought the rooks and bait to the University Veterinary Hospital, UCD for analysis."

This recalls a similar story some time ago involving the destruction of a rookerie in which the Louth Ranger, Kieran Buckley, successfully brought a case against a Louth resident, the conviction being upheld on appeal with a reduction in the fine.

Hopefully this zealon the part of NPWS rangers will spread to the rest of the country and we wil get successful prosecutions of the individuals responsible for poisoning White-tailed Eagles in Kerry and Golden Eagles in Donegal. To support this see the petition in this link.