Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting dead of seven sheep in Wicklow earlier this week.

The sheep were discovered by their owner Eoin Brady on Tuesday afternoon on commonage land in Laragh East, Glenmacnass. Mr Brady was quoted by the Wicklownews.net website as saying: “This is the work of a trained marksman, they were all shot in the heart, lung region and were shot with a high powered centre fire rifle.”

He said it was worse than a dog attack because of the badness involved.

A Garda spokeswoman said gardaí were investigating alleged criminal damage in the case. “It’s an ongoing investigation. There is no further information at the moment,” she said.

Several local farmers graze hundreds of sheep on the commonage land.

12 sheep were shot dead in the same area two years ago.