Gardaí and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are investigating the killing of a family of Daubenton's bats which were nesting at a bridge in Co Galway.
The killing, which has been described as "horrendous" by Galway County Council and by wildlife experts, is believed to have been carried out in an attempt to expedite engineering works at the bridge.
Ganty bridge is one of four in the Craughwell area earmarked for repair. However, work had been postponed until a newly-born family of bats left the bridge.
A wildlife consultant advised the local authority that the animals would leave their nest by the end of July, and the council's engineering staff decided to postpone work on this basis as bats are a protected species.
Galway Bat Group member Martin Byrnes said the incident is believed to have occurred last weekend.
"We went out after taking a call, and found three bats dead and two still alive, but they didn't survive.
"It was just about the worst thing I have seen - their fur was scorched, wings had melted and the mother was obviously trying to protect her young."
Daubenton's bats are found in wood areas with large stretches of open water and near river banks.
They are characteristically seen flying with rapid wing beats over water surfaces, chasing small insects such as midges.
The local authority asked the media yesterday not to report details on the precise method of killing as it was concerned that it might encourage copycat incidents.
Former Galway mayor and Green Party councillor Niall Ó Brolchain described the incident as "horrific".
He said whoever was responsible must be prosecuted if they could be found by gardaí.
"While the presence of bats in the structure of the bridge may or may not have delayed repairs to the bridge, the killing of protected animals in such a cruel and callous fashion cannot be justified," said Mr Ó Brolchain.
The incident has been condemned by the Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The Department of Environment said the National Parks and Wildlife Service had been alerted, and was investigating the case.
