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Six lambs killed in Co Down farm attack

Eight sheep had their ears sliced or cut off, while three others died after being stabbed in the throat on the farm at Temple Hill Road, Ballyholland
Eight sheep had their ears sliced or cut off, while three others died after being stabbed in the throat on the farm at Temple Hill Road, Ballyholland Eight sheep had their ears sliced or cut off, while three others died after being stabbed in the throat on the farm at Temple Hill Road, Ballyholland

LAMBS have been killed and had their ears cut off in a shocking attack on a Co Down farm.

Eight sheep had their ears sliced or cut off, while three others died after being stabbed in the throat on the farm at Temple Hill Road, Ballyholland.

Three more of the Suffolk pedigree lambs had to be put down at a veterinary clinic due to their injuries.

Ruairi McCartney, whose father owns the farm, said he was "completely devastated".

"It was just shocking. At first I thought it might have been a dog attack," he told the BBC.

"But when I saw it, some of the sheep had their ears sliced off the whole way down, while others had just been cut."

It is understood the attack happened between 8.30pm on Tuesday and 8.30am today.

Mr McCartney said that there were up to 11 sheep in the field overnight.

"We found three of them dead, and then another three had to be put down when the vet arrived," he said.

"There are no grudges held around here, so I don't understand who would have done this."

In 2015, a similar attack took place in a farm in Dungannon in which a number of sheep had their right ears cut off.

Several of the animals from the farm on the Battleford Road area of the town later had heart attacks and died.