More than 30 sheep have been killed by dogs in the south Offaly and north Tipperary area and over 500 terrorised over the holiday period, writes Sean MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent
Mr Aidan Larkin, chairman of the Irish Farmers Association's national sheep committee, said the attacks had caused major financial losses to farmers in the area.
"It has also been the cause of great cruelty to sheep and the blame must rest on irresponsible dog owners who fail to control their pets," he said.
He said farmers had the right to hunt down and destroy killer dogs if they were found to be attacking sheep.