Falcon shooting: Finger of blame insults all of us

[Donna]

Remember the Falcon that was shot in Ireland?

I write in relation to a recent article in the Belfast Telegraph entitled 'Peregrine Falcon killed by shotgun in County Down' (News, October 19).

Criminal acts such as this do nothing but tarnish the good name of shooting sports. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) condemns the shooting of any bird of prey.

I genuinely hope that that the perpetrators of this thoughtless act are brought before the courts, but while there is no disputing the fact that the bird was shot, I am disappointed that you chose to point the finger of blame at the local wildfowling community.

Wildfowling in the Strangford Lough area is heavily regulated under a permit scheme run by the National Trust in co-operation with BASC.

National Trust wildlife wardens monitor wildfowling activities on the lough and members of the wildfowling community work alongside Trust staff.

Wildfowlers have excellent quarry identification skills and a mentoring system ensures that newcomers can enjoy the sport in safety and that they remain within the law. Therefore, the chances of this incident being "a mistaken or accidental shooting by wildfowlers" is extremely slim - to say the least.

I would ask that you think carefully before insulting the local wildfowling community by pointing the finger of suspicion at responsible, law-abiding sportsmen.

TOMMY MAYNE

BASC Northern Ireland