A Sniper Has Shot 225 Phoenix Park Deer Over The Last Three Years

It's just been revealed that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has employed a sniper to shoot 225 farrow deer in Phoenix Park over the last three years.

The revelation came as part of freedom of information request, with the record showing that an unnamed Bray-based marksman has been culling the park's deer population.

According to Irishtimes.com, several culls were carried out by the sniper since November 2013 which generated over €10,000 for the State, straight to central exchequer funding, through the sale of deer carcasses.

The deer killed at the park last spring had been sold to the UK market as frozen venison, said Pat Doyle of specialist meat company Wild Irish Game.

The OPW has stated that Phoenix Park now has around 590 wild deer.

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