Children suspected of killing goat in Co Tyrone

The PSNI is investigating an incident in which children are thought to have beaten a young goat to death.

The PSNI is investigating an incident in which children are thought to have beaten a young goat to death.

Police were contacted by a landowner in the Omagh area when a dead goat was found on his land on Wednesday. Police say the attack happened on Tuesday night, and a hurley may have been used in the attack.

A police spokesman told ireland.comtwo children aged six and nine were spoken to in relation to the death of the animal and the matter has since been referred to a Youth Diversion Officer. The children are too young to be prosecuted.

Animal lovers have been outraged over the attack with the USPCA's Stephen Philpott stating his horror at the incident.

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"Animals, children and cruelty just don't go in the same sentence together," he said. "I am struggling to imagine a six-year-old with what was allegedly a hurley bat bludgeoning a more docile and trusting animal."

Elsewhere, the PSNI is looking for information after vandals caused serious disruption at Belfast Zoo following an overnight attack.

Picnic benches where thrown into a pond, fire hydrants were activated and rubbish bins were overturned. Staff spent several hours cleaning up this morning.