'One was decapitated' - sheep ripped apart by loose dogs in vicious attack

“I just dread the scanning. It’s a loss to my livelihood.”

“It’s very disheartening. Dog owners can’t believe their dogs would do this sort of damage. It’s a disgrace.”

Irish Farmer’s Association’s Matthew McGreehan said: "Farmers are well within their rights to shoot a dog if they are of the opinion the dog is about to worry or has been worrying sheep”.

"Owners are also liable to pay compensation to farmers for their loss."

"It’s fairly possible it was a big dog that was involved in the attack as the heads were taken off them and the sheep were frightened."

"Some sheep are still missing and the rest of the flock is in lamb. It’s too early to calculate the total cost."

These attacks come just four months after a Farmers Guardian ’Take the Lead’ sign was ripped down by an angry dog walker.

Editor Ben Briggs received an anonymous letter with the torn-down sign which was described as ’objectionable and rude’.

He described sheep worrying as a ’small problem’.