Chick pair survive horrific massacre of racing pigeons

TWO chicks managed to survive a massacre in a city pigeon loft by hiding under water bowls, it emerged today.

Brian O'Neill's champion flock, worth 30,000, was targeted in the violent attack on Friday night in what he believes was a personal attack by a rival.

He told the Evening News how only two young birds out of a total of 54 in the loft survived being beaten to death.

The culprit used a crowbar to wrench off the front of one of his three pigeon huts, based on Old Dalkeith Road, before breaking their backs with what is believed to have been a wooden stick. Several of the young birds killed were also beheaded.

Mr O'Neill, whose collection was passed on by his father and his grandfather before him, said a further two of the best in his flock, including a cock worth 3000, had been stolen just two weeks earlier.

The 70-year-old, who lives on Prestonfield Road, said he had been left sickened by the mindless attack on his long-distance racing pigeons.

He said: "When I came here on Saturday morning and saw the birds on the ground in the blood and feathers, I felt sick to the pit of my stomach.

"I have always kept birds, they have been passed down in the family, and to lose them like this is heartbreaking. I'm just glad they didn't see the other two babies, but they're left traumatised."

Mr O'Neill, a member of Newtongrange Pigeon Club, added: "One other bird survived for a couple of days, one of my best whose grandfather was a world champion, but they'd broken his insides and he didn't make it. This was a horrible, painful way for them to die.

"I hope the person who did this will get his day. I think they want me to stop racing, but I won't let this beat me."

Mr O'Neill plans to crank up security at his pigeon loft site, including installing CCTV. He said he or one of his family would constantly stay nearby the huts to make sure none of his other pigeons are attacked.

He said: "I'll be getting cameras and an alarm system, and if I have to stay on the site, so be it. The rest of my hundred or so birds are upset and jumpy. I won't be racing this year, but I'll get back on track."

Police said they were investigating the incident, which happened sometime between 8pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday. They are asking for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area to come forward.

A spokesman said: "This has been a sickening act of animal cruelty, which has left the birds' owner extremely upset at the death of his birds. Anyone who can assist us in identifying those responsible is asked to contact police."