Press release from PSNI (Police Service for Northern Ireland), 13 December 2024
POLICE CONFIRM BIRD POISONING IN ARMAGH
Police have confirmed that an adult bird of prey was found dead in the Forkhill area of Armagh in June of this year was poisoned.
It was reported on the 12th June that a Peregrine Falcon was found dead in the Forkhill area. The bird was retrieved by our search and rescue team and underwent testing to ascertain the exact circumstances, with enquiries ongoing the last number of months.
Constable Millen said: “We can now confirm the Peregrine Falcon found was poisoned with Carbofuran which is very concerning. This is not only a dangerous substance but it has been banned since 2001.
“We would remind the public if there is a suspicion of a crime, such as poisoning on any bird of prey in their local area, to leave the bird(s) and/or bait in situ and to call the police as soon as possible for officers to action.
“We have been working closely with our partners in Northern Ireland Environment Agency and National Wildlife Crime Unit and Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group regarding the matter and will continue to do so, in the hope to find those responsible.
“Police would appeal to anyone who has information on any suspected bird poisoning to please make contact via our non-emergency number 101, or online at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.  Â
ENDS
As far as I’m aware, nobody has ever been prosecuted for the illegal poisoning of any wildlife in Northern Ireland, which might explain why poisoning offences, especially against birds of prey, continue.
The Police waiting for six months before issuing an appeal for information about a poisoning crime won’t help, either.
Following the illegal poisoning of two white-tailed eagles in May 2023, found dead together on Northern Ireland’s only driven grouse moor at Glenwherry in the Antrim Hills (here), the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group launched a petition calling for a ban on the possession of dangerous pesticides (here).
This petition is still live and has attracted almost 46,000 signatures. If you’d like to support it, please click here (you don’t have to be a resident/citizen of NI to sign – it’s open to anyone).
To learn more about recent raptor persecution incidents in Northern Ireland, this excellent report is well worth a read. It covers incidents reported in 2021 and 2022 (published May 2024).
Raptor Persecution UK 
The usual inept response by the inept authorities who basically let’s face it couldn’t give a shit never fail to amaze .
Sent from AOL on Android
I couldn’t sign the petition, Ruth. Someone or something keeps blocking it. Nothing wrong at my end, I followed all protocols.
It seems to be working now, I just signed.
These crimes need to be taken more seriously by the authorities And be made recordable so that the police treat them with the correct amount of due diligence. The criminals are laughing all the way to the way to their shoots.
What a pathetic response from the Police. There is no point in asking for information 6 months after the incident when anyone who might’ve had information will have forgotten any important details and perhaps the whole of what they’d known.