The Department of Agriculture has already begun an investigation into the scenes of cruelty broadcast last night on RTÉ from a horse abattoir in Straffan, Country Kildare.
Difficult to watch and recorded in a part of the facility not inspected by authorities, the programme has brought a swift response from Horse Racing Ireland.
The programme stated that the horses slaughtered on the premises included former racehorses who had raced 3,000 times and won over €1.5 million in prize money though these numbers have not been verified.
“The Board, management and staff of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) are deeply shocked and appalled by the content of the RTÉ Investigates documentary broadcast on RTÉ 1 on Wednesday night,” read a statement which landed last night after the programme.
“The criminal behaviour depicted in the RTÉ documentary is disgusting and is not the experience of the vast majority of the 30,000 people who make their livelihood in the horse racing and breeding industry in Ireland.”
“HRI has zero tolerance for mistreatment of horses in any circumstance, and criminal and regulatory sanction must be imposed on anyone found to have behaved in an illegal way towards horses.”
“Equine safety and care is HRI’s top priority, and this year HRI will invest €16.1 million in welfare and integrity services. The thoroughbred horse is enshrined in Irish and EU law. Significant legal and regulatory checks and balances are in place for thoroughbred horses from birth through their racing career and life cycle. ”
“HRI will review the issues raised in the RTÉ documentary and will actively support any Department of Agriculture or Garda investigation, and urge anyone with information about mistreatment of horses to report it to An Garda Síochána.”
These programmes are usually made to shock for a very good reason. The impact they can have on the public perception of a sector can be damaging in areas beyond the scope of those who are clearly in need of sanction, though, and Horse Racing Ireland and the Department will now be on the back foot as regards ongoing commentary.
Primetime is expected to follow up the programme tonight at 21:35.
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