An investigation is now under way by local authorities after the discovery of two carcases of dead calves on Whitestrand beach in Doonbeg, Co Clare, on Sunday.

Local gardaí confirmed that the carcases were found with no tags by a member of the public who was walking on the beach.

“We believe they were washed up with tide. The details are very vague at the moment but an investigation is under way,” a garda spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.

A door-to-door enquiry with local farmers is currently being carried out but none, as of yet, are said to be missing livestock.

Gardaí also confirmed that it was very close to the location where the bodies of 17 dead animals were dumped almost two years ago. The decomposing carcases of 10 horses, four cattle and three calves were found at the bottom of the Baltard Cliffs in Doonbeg, Co Clare, in April 2014.

Court case ongoing

The animals in the 2014 discovery are believed to be thrown from the 300ft clifftop. Their ears had been cut off to remove the tags.

The gardaí confirmed that a courtcase is currently ongoing in relation to the incident at the Baltard Cliffs, but could not make any further comments.

Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) fear that Sunday’s discovery may be connected with the 2014 case, urging the Department of Agriculture to investigate further.

“Back in 2014, and a stones throw from the same beach, more than 15 animal bodies were dumped including horses, cattle and calves. We fear more bodies could wash up in the coming days.

“There’s a bad omen on this beach or someone very clearly sick, twisted and callous,” ARAN’s John Carmody said. “We urge the Department of Agriculture to investigate and we urge the gardaí to find those responsible and to come down on them like a tonne of bricks,” he said.