Fingal County Council has said it is shocked and concerned after a stag in one of its parklands in north county Dublin was beheaded yesterday morning.
The stag's head was removed from the grounds of Newbridge House in Donabate and staff say they have no doubt it was taken as a trophy.
They say the herd of 16 Irish red deer have been kept in a fenced area of the grounds of Newbridge House for more than two decades and that nothing of this nature has ever occurred before.
Foreman of works at Newbridge House and Traditional Farm Ivan Smith said staff were shocked and devastated by the discovery.
"The farmers head down and normally feed the deer first thing in the morning. The deer would come over but Vinny the farmer noticed there was no sign of the stag. He walked the perimeter of the enclosure and he noticed the dismembered body in the ditch," Mr Smith said.
"The head was missing and the body was dismembered and cut in half, so we assume it was shot, as you wouldn't be able to catch the stag.
"The fence to the enclosure, the wire was cut and the body looked to be dragged through the wire and dismembered in the ditch," he said.
"We're shocked. We've had this herd of deer for over 20 years, and nothing like this has ever happened. He was a nice stag, a big prize-looking animal and they all had a great relationship.
"The farmers would be close to the animals and it's not what you expect to see when you come into work. It was a huge shock. It's a huge loss," Mr Smith added.
Asked if he believed the head was taken as a trophy, he said "without a doubt".
"People take them to mount and they can go for big money. But this is totally new to us and we are worried now going forward for the other 15 deer.
"He was in control of the herd, they will notice and it will take them a while to settle," he said.
The council said it was stunned by the incident in which it said the stag was butchered.
It is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Head of Communications with Fingal Council Council Gerry McDermott said: "We believe this was premeditated and we are appealing to anyone who noticed anything in the area to contact gardaí or the National Parks and Wildlife Service."
He said that security is being reviewed in light of the incident, but as Newbridge Demesne is a 150-hectare park, policing the whole park would be difficult.
Mr McDermott said the incident had come at a particularly difficult time for staff and members of the public, as people with small children regularly visit the herd in the run-up to the Christmas period.
Gardaí said they are investigating a reported incident of wildlife crime which is believed to have occurred on farmland in the early hours of this morning.
In a statement, they said the matter is also under investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and inquiries are ongoing.
