A resident in the Carrickatuke area – between Keady and Newtownhamilton – made a sad and grim discovery on Tuesday afternoon, when she found two potbelly pigs, that she believes to have been abandoned, shot in the head.
The woman said the pigs appeared approximately two weeks ago on the outskirts of the forest area on Carrickatuke mountain.
She said it appeared they may have been abandoned there as there were signs that tags may have been “cut” from their ears.
Nonetheless, she said the two pigs were “quite friendly” and were “doing no harm”, living on the outskirts of private land.
In fact, she and her grandchildren had taken a fondness of the pigs and had been visiting regularly to see them and bring them “kitchen scraps” to eat.
However, on Tuesday (April 7) they took a trip up to visit and feed the pigs and sadly found both deceased.
Speaking to Armagh I, the woman – who was clearly upset by the discovery – said: “My granddaughter turned to me and said ‘Granny, we haven’t fed the pigs today!’
“So, we went up and found them lying in like a little area they had been using as their bed.
“At first we thought they were sleeping but when I got closer I saw the blood. Both had been shot. It was absolutely devastating.”
Last week, Councillor Brona Haughey had been informed of the pigs’ arrival on Carrickatuke and had been busily trying to find out if anyone was missing them and also trying to source an animal welfare charity to take them in if they weren’t claimed.
When Armagh I informed the Councillor of their deaths, she was very clearly upset and taken aback by the cruelty.
Said Councillor Haughey: “I contacted a few people to see if they had escaped but to no avail. I didn’t post online as they were safe and well fed (by a loving local family) and I didn’t want anything to happen to them until I was able to have them rescued.
“I am sorry to say, that some horrible person took it upon themselves to go and shoot these innocent creatures who were doing no harm. They’re now lying in a pool of blood at Carrickatuke.
“I have contacted Council, who will have to wait for an external contractor to come and collect these gorgeous animals who were doing no harm.
“I honestly despair at the cruelty.”
