Protected bats wiped out in deliberate fire

An investigation is underway in Galway into how a colony of adult and baby bats was totally wiped out during a fire in recent days.

The bats, which are a protected species, were nursing and sleeping under a bridge near Craughwell when a fire was apparently started deliberately to get rid of them

The bridge has been closed for remedial works since April, causing long detours for motorists in the village, and some people have incorrectly blamed the bats for the disruption.

The Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says whoever tried to burn them out of their nursing spot inflicted terrible cruelty on the mammals.