A MAN has been arrested after two dogs and six horses were shot dead at two farms in the south of Ireland.
Gardaí launched a manhunt in north Cork yesterday after the animals were discovered dead in Newmarket, Co. Cork in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Members of the Regional Support Unit assisted with the search, which was centred around Newmarket village itself.
A man in his 30s was then arrested after surrendering to garda at a property in the local area.
It is believed that no one else was involved in the incident.
At around 2am on Sunday morning a farmer, in his 70s, was awoken to the sound of gunfire and went out to discover his dog had been killed.
He then notified gardaí at Kanturk who further discovered the carcases of six horses and another dog across two farms owned by the farmer.
A man was seen leaving the scene in 131-C registered black Toyota Carolla saloon car before the arrest of the man, who is a relative of the farmer.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai wish to thank the media and the public for their assistance in relation to this incident and wish to advise that we are no longer looking for the 131-C registration car.”
