West Cork incident was largest poisoning of birds of prey in Ireland for decades

A common buzzard of the type in the West Cork case of poisoning of 23 birds with an illegal insecticide. Buzzards prey on small mammals, birds, rabbits, insects, earthworms, and amphibians. Picture: iStock

Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan will meet with BirdWatch Ireland and other organisations to advance proposals to set up a wildlife crime unit.

Meanwhile, a €5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to prosecution of those responsible for the 2019 poisoning of 23 buzzards on West Cork farmland.