The incident at Aughnacloy also took place during what the USPCA describes as “badger baiting season”, which typically happens between September to March, a period of seven months.

Apart from the poisoning birds of prey, badger baiting is one of the biggest wildlife crimes in this country, but it's very hard to catch those responsible in the act and even harder to prosecute.

He describes badger baiting as being like “something from a snuff film”. “They will open a hole, dig down into the sett and let in some big dog like a bull mastiff or something.

An initiative to prevent badger baiting in Northern Ireland has received a special commendation at the National Wildlife Crime Prevention Conference. Sixteen badger setts have, so far, been ...