Press release from The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), 14 January 2025:
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A WHITE-TAILED EAGLE IN COUNTY WESTMEATH
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) appeal to the public for information.
The NPWS has launched an investigation following the recent shooting dead of a White-tailed Eagle beside Lough Owel, near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and is appealing to the public for information.
The two-year old female eagle was part of the NPWS White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme. She was released in 2022 on the Shannon Estuary. Investigating officers have established that the bird was shot, but, are awaiting further results of forensic analysis that may provide additional information.
The NPWS deplores the deliberate killing of rare and endangered species, and takes bird of prey persecutions extremely seriously.
NPWS is appealing for any information the public may have in relation to the incident.
As part of the reintroduction programme, White-tailed Eagle chicks are fitted with satellite tags to monitor their movement. Information from the satellite tag for the dead eagle indicates that she died sometime on Friday the 6th of December, the day before Storm Darragh, in the Ballynafid / Portnashangan area at Lough Owel.
Satellite information shows that she was present in the area over the previous couple of weeks having travelled widely across the country since her release in 2022. In early 2023, she left north Kerry, and spent time at various locations along the western seaboard. She also travelled to Donegal and spent a lot of time making trips over and back to north Antrim, Fermanagh, Cavan and other counties, including visiting Lough Ree in the north midlands. Lately she had come back to Westmeath where she moved between local lakes- Lough Owel, Lough Derravaragh and Lough Ennell.
Members of the public can contact the NPWS by emailing wildlifeenforcement@npws.gov.ie. All reports will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
ENDS
There is a further NWPS statement dated 15 January 2025:
MINISTER NOONAN APPEALS TO THE PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A WHITE-TAILED EAGLE AT LOUGH OWEL IN CO. WESTMEATH
“Like all who cherish our wildlife, I was devastated to hear of the recent shooting dead of a White-tailed Eagle beside Lough Owel, near Mullingar in Co. Westmeath. White Tailed Eagles are magnificent creatures; their presence are such good indicators of the health of our ecosystems and countryside and now part of our wider efforts to restore nature. It is an absolute deplorable act to kill such a rare and endangered species.
“This young female eagle was part of the very successful NPWS White Tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme in partnership with Norway. I was honoured to be present at the release of these stunning creatures to the wild in my role as Minister of State for Nature and Heritage.
“After being released into the Shannon Estuary in 2022 she had peacefully settled into the Irish landscape travelling from north Kerry, spending time in Western Seaboard before travelling to Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan and other counties, including visiting Lough Ree in the north midlands. Lately she had returned to Westmeath where she moved between local lakes- Lough Owel, Lough Derravaragh and Lough Ennell. Satellite tags fitted by NPWS indicate that she died on 6th December the day before Storm Darragh, in the Ballynafid/ Portnashangan area at Lough Owel.
“White Tailed Eagles are treasured by local communities and visitors to Ireland alike and any loss resonates throughout. I appeal to the public to come forward with any information that they may have in relation to this incident. I am assured that NPWS are undertaking a thorough investigation led by the Wildlife Crime Directorate with the support of An Garda Siochána and will, where possible, bring the perpetrators of this unacceptable crime to justice. Members of the public can contact the NPWS by emailing wildlifeenforcement@npws.gov.ie. All reports will be treated in the strictest of confidence“.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
And what will happen? NOTHING
What do you think should happen?
prison term and fine!
“prison term and fine!”
Uh? First, you have to find the culprit!
Country Born and Bred claimed that “NOTHING will happen” in response to an appeal to the public for information from both the NPWS and Minister Noonan after the shooting of a White-tailed Eagle in Ireland.
Why would the public not respond? Why so certain that NOTHING will happen?
I want to scream! Despite having some of the toughest gun laws in western Europe there are still too many guns in the hands of criminals. There must be a better way! Perhaps an immediate six-month suspension of all shotgun licences within a 5km radius of a crime like this. It would have to be funded, of course, so put up the cost of a shotgun licence to cover the true cost of licensing, the cost of policing the illegal use of shotguns and managing a policy of suspension.
Personally, I see zero justification for the private ownership of shotguns. Nobody needs them. They could be licensed to clay pigeon / skeet shooting clubs, grouse, pheasant and partridge shoots and taken out of the hands of the criminals / those gamekeepers who constantly break the law and the sickos that like killing things for fun, pretending that it is for food or pest control.
Completely agree – theres no justification for anyone to own a personal firearm. Shooting deer, pheasants or pigeons for food could be done using guns kept permanently at separate premises for the purpose and logged out on short term loans. Ammunition likewise.
When an animal is illegally killed it would be immediately apparent who in the vicinity is actively using a firearm at the relevant time.
“Despite having some of the toughest gun laws in western Europe there are still too many guns in the hands of criminals.”
According to the Geneva Small Arms Survey of privately held guns per 100 people in the World:
The United States is top, No 1. Who’d have guessed?
Northern Ireland comes 77th
Ireland comes 107th.
“Firearms do not have widespread visibility in most of Irish life outside farming and the shooting sports…
Under Section 4 of the Firearms Act 1925: A good reason for wanting the firearm: Hunting and target shooting qualify as do certain other activities like humane dispatch of large animals.”
Scotland comes 117th.
While England and Wales come 127th.
Doesn’t sound like ‘some of the toughest gun laws’ to me.
I agree with above comment.
Devastating news that some moron would kill such a beautiful, young bird.
The penalties must be much stiffer.Life time ban on owning a gun and a decent time in jail.
A 5km ban for a few months….
lovely idea, but I guess difficult to enforce.More restricted licencing…..maybe a family ban for such a killing.
Well Simon Tucker and Hazel scream so do I I’m just gutted it’s needs to be sorted it’s not good enough bastards need to be stopped. Again happy new year NOT.
I’m so angry about this – it’s got to be a farmer”protecting” his stock from a mainly fish-predating bird….sounds about right!🙄