Section 12 – Protection for persons acting under sections 8 to 11
Section 7(1)(a) of the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 forbids the culling of hares in their close season and Section 7(A)(1)(a) forbids their culling on Sundays. Article 19(1) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prohibits the killing of fallow, sika and red deer in the close season.
Article 19(4) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 forbids the taking and removing of live deer, their marking or tagging, or their transportation by aircraft, other than inside the aircraft. Persons will be protected against these prohibitions where they take action under sections 8, 9 or 10 of the Forestry Act.
Section 7B of the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 prohibits the taking, destruction or molestation of the nests or eggs of game birds. Section 7E of the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 prohibits the burning or destruction from 15 April to the 31 August of cover for game birds. Persons will be protected against these prohibitions where they remove or destroy vegetation under section 11 of the Forestry Act.
Article 10(4) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prohibits the damaging, destruction, or obstruction of the shelter or protective place of any wild animal protected under Schedule 5 of that Order. Article 14 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prohibits the picking, uprooting, removal or destruction of wild plants protected under its Schedule 8. Persons will be protected against these prohibitions where they remove or destroy vegetation under section 11 of the Forestry Act.