A FARMER says he is dumbfounded after two of his lambs sustained injuries after being shot in suspicious circumstances last week. 

Oscar Thompson from Garrison was left stunned when he discovered the six week old lambs wounded on land he rents 15 miles away on the Sligo Road outside Belcoo. The farmer confirmed that he made the grim discovery last Monday morning. It’s believed that a pellet gun was used in the incident. 

“I noticed one of the lambs had a swollen jaw and a hole just below the eye. I didn’t pass much remark until I saw the second lamb with the same hole. I took them to the vet the next morning who confirmed that they had been injured by a fired shot. They have had to have two injections every day to bring down the swelling. At the minute, it looks as though they were lucky and will be OK. The vet was concerned that a pellet might be lodged inside and if that has happened they won’t make it ”

Mr Thompson says the incident must have occured on the night of Sunday, March 6 as he had made his daily check on the animals earlier that day. He says he doesn’t know if the incident was a direct target at him or a childish prank. 

“I have no idea who could have done this because I don’t believe that I have any enemies. I have rented this land for 16 years and been farming for 30 years. There has never been any issue with anybody and I’ve never experienced anything like this. If someone has a problem with me I would rather that they came to speak to me directly instead of taking it out on the poor sheep.”

Mr Thompson is taking precautions and has already moved some of animals to another field. 

“I want to know what’s going on – if it was young ones acting the maggot and looking for fun or something more sinister against my livelihood. Rural farming is hard enough without this type of behaviour,” he added.     

Local MP Tom Elliot says the incident is both “demoralising and worrying”. 

He told the Herald: “You have to wonder about the mindset of people who go around injurying farm animals intentionally if that is what happened here. I would urge farmers to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police.”  

Police in Enniskillen have appealed for information following the report of injuries to the two lambs. They are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to contact them at Enniskillen on 101.