Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said she is “deeply alarmed” by what she said is the “growing scale of fly-tipping and the illegal dumping of animal carcasses” across Northern Ireland.
She warned that these acts “pose a serious threat to both public health and the rural environment”.
She said: “A number of recently reported incidents, particularly in Co. Tyrone, have highlighted a deeply disturbing trend.
“The dumping of dead livestock, including cattle, sheep and lambs, in ditches and along rural country roads is not only shocking but entirely unacceptable.”
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed this week that an “active investigation” of animal dumping was underway in Clogher, Co. Tyrone and surrounding areas.
‘Escalating problem’
Lockhart noted that these incidents are “not isolated, but part of a wider and escalating problem”.
“Fly-tipping in all its forms, from animal carcasses to worn tyres, other household rubbish and hazardous waste, is blighting our countryside,” she said.
“It contaminates waterways, endangers wildlife, and creates very real health risks for families living nearby.
“The stench and visual impact alone are distressing, but the environmental consequences are far more severe.”
Lockhart also highlighted a “need for stronger enforcement and accountability”.
“While DAERA, local councils and the Police Service of Northern Ireland are investigating these crimes, the number of convictions remains far too low compared to the scale of the problem,” she said.
“The majority of offenders are evading detection and prosecution.”
‘More robust response’
The MP called for a “more robust response and tougher penalties”.
“We need increased resources for enforcement, better co-ordination between agencies, and stronger penalties to act as a real deterrent,” she said.
“Those who engage in this disgusting behaviour must be held fully accountable.”
Lockhart also urged the public and farming community to remain vigilant.
“Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility. I would encourage anyone with information to come forward,” she said.
“We must send a clear message that this kind of criminality will not be tolerated in our rural communities.”