Minister for the Environment John Gormley has expressed his disgust at the killing of a rare Red Kite near Arklow in Co Wicklow.
The bird, one of 30 kites fitted with a radio transmitter and released in Wicklow almost six weeks ago, was found dead after apparently being shot out of the sky. An X-ray revealed shotgun pellets in its chest.
"This illegal killing is a very serious breach of our wildlife legislation," said Mr Gormley. All native birds of prey, including released Red Kites, were fully protected under wildlife legislation.
"Under the European Union's Birds Directive, Red Kites are listed as an Annex I species and are therefore given the highest level of protection under European law."
Mr Gormley said the bird's corpse was located by radio tracking. He added that the bird was shot sometime between Sunday evening and Tuesday lunchtime and was recovered from a field north of Arklow.
He noted that the National Association of Regional Gun Clubs had unreservedly condemned the shooting.
