Roosters found dead after 'suspected cockfighting'

Cockfighting is illegal and often results in the severe injury or death of roosters

Gardaí (Irish police) said they found 15 dead roosters at a property in County Monaghan after a suspected cockfighting event.

Cockfighting is an illegal blood spot when cockerels are forced to fight each other, sometimes with metal spurs, resulting in injury or death.

Gardaí said a large number of people fled the scene when officers arrived at the private residence in Emyvale on Saturday morning.

In addition to the dead birds, a further 70 live roosters were seized by staff from the Department of Agriculture.

It is being treated as an animal welfare incident.

Search warrant

In a statement, Gardaí said they received a report of suspected cockfighting at about 11:00 local time on Saturday.

After the crowd fled, officers sought assistance from the Department of Agriculture to obtain a warrant to search the property.

They said evidence of suspected cockfighting was seized alongside the birds.

Cockfighting usually involves an audience of spectators who gamble on the outcome of the fights.

Officers appealed to anyone with information about the incident to contact them.