LOCALS in Ahiohill fed up with hunters accessing their land without their permission have taken to issuing a ‘Lands Preserved’ notice in The Southern Star.

More than 20 home owners and landowners in the area are listed on the notice indicating that their lands are private property and that ‘no hunting, no shooting, no dogs and no public access is permitted to prevent damage to property, livestock and wildlife.

They were forced to take this action following an incident on Sunday September 21st where hunters, believed to have come from Cork city, trespassed on numerous properties, while two lurcher dogs went on the loose and attacked a Shetland pony on private land.

One local, who did not wish to be named, told The Southern Star that landowners in the area have been terrorised by these particular hunters for years.

‘These people are a scourge. They have no respect for people, property or livestock and it all came to a head last month when their lurcher dogs attacked a Shetland pony in front of its owner.

‘These hunters have no permission or insurance. Their dogs aren’t microchipped and there’s no comeback if anything goes wrong.’

It is understood the family who own the pony faced substantial veterinary bills following the attack, while the animal’s injuries will take months to heal.

This latest incident has forced those living in the area to come together to ban all hunting on their lands in an effort to protect themselves, their livestock and their property.

Signs have been erected across the area on people’s lands which read ‘no hunting, no shooting, no dogs, no trespassing.’

‘The message is plain and simple, loud and clear.’

A Garda spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the incident and that one local managed to catch the two lurchers dogs, which were then handed over to gardaí.

‘Gardaí took possession of the two dogs and handed them over to the dog warden,’ said a spokesperson. It is understood the two dogs were not chipped and the owners failed to call to the dog pound to retrieve them.