Some 10 sheep died on a Co Wexford farm following a dog attack on Friday of last week.

Gus Connick, farm manager for Orna Foley in Barntown, Co Wexford, told the Irish Farmers Journal that he was alerted to trouble in his fields at 4.30am on Friday morning.

“Sheep were scattered in ditches, in the river, hiding under trees,” he said. “We only found the dogs at 10am. They were still killing sheep.”

Gus shot two pointer hunting dogs. The attack left six sheep dead and four more had to be put down, he said. Five others are missing, presumed drowned.

Eight to 10 ewes aborted during the attack and 25 were treated for serious injuries.

Thanks to a number on the dogs’ collars, the farmer identified their owner.

“He was in the gun club and covered by the club’s insurance,” he said, adding that the club had dealt with the situation appropriately.

He said this was the third dog attack in recent days in a six-mile radius. It was the first on his farm.