Adam Dunlop and his family built their ideal home nestled in the Northern Irish countryside, unaware that the peaceful surroundings would soon become the site of illegal dumping involving dead animals. Near their residence, alongside a quiet country road close to the village of Clogher, the roadside ditch has been turned into a distressing scene. The area contains decomposing remains of a large cow and several sheep piled on top of each other, alongside bags filled with other animal carcasses scattered across the fields. Additionally, general waste including burnt tyres, mattresses, and old kitchen appliances litters the vicinity.

Reflecting on the situation, Dunlop described the overwhelming stench, saying, “It’s the smell that hits you first, then I saw the dead cow, and it made me sick to my stomach.” He expressed deep concern about the health implications for his family, especially his six-month-old daughter, stating, “We can’t even take her for a walk up the road now because of this issue.” Dunlop emphasized their desire to live in a beautiful rural setting, lamenting the disrespect shown by those responsible for the illegal dumping.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) acknowledged the issue and confirmed that an investigation into the incidents is underway. In Northern Ireland, those responsible for the disposal of fallen livestock are generally the animal owners or, failing that, the landowners where the animals are found. When carcasses are discovered on public land or highways and ownership cannot be established, the responsibility falls on local councils. Currently, Daera has not been able to identify the landowner in this particular case. Representatives from Fermanagh and Omagh Council indicated that due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry, they could not provide further comment.

Incidents of illegal animal dumping are not isolated to the Dunlops’ area. More reports have surfaced in the Clogher Valley region, where locals like Ryan Thompson have voiced their frustrations. Thompson raised concerns about the environmental impact and the difficulty in tracing the origins of the animals, noting that “the tags have been taken off so it’s difficult to track down the owner.” His observations point to an increase in illegal dumping activity, with particular worry about how these animals died. Local officials confirm that between 2020 and 2025, Northern Ireland saw over 3

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