OVER 100 people attended a public meeting in Clonmel on Monday evening over animal welfare with recent grim finds of seven dead and starved horses at Knocklofty, Co Tipperary, at the top of the agenda.

The meeting was organised by the Action for Animal Welfare Ireland group and was attended by many Tipperary-based public representatives, animal rescue organisations and media. Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath (Ind) was present as were Cllrs. David Doran and Pat English.

The focus was the need for the relevant authorities to properly enforce the existing Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 legislation, with a particular emphasis on the recent shocking equine abuse cases around Clonmel which hit the national headlines.

Anne Williamson from AAWI spoke about the need for change and enforcement of laws to protect horses.

After many contributions from the floor, it was resolved that another future meeting will be held, inviting more groups involved in animal welfare, to plan effective strategy moving forward.

AAWI urged people to lobby their public representatives over animal welfare and the proactive enforcement of existing legislation.

This week, Waterford Animal Welfare (WAW), a veterinary surgeon and the Gardaí worked together to seize an emaciated yearling under the Control Of Horses Act. The skin and bone animal is now receiving care. Other equine cases WAW is dealing with include two more horses, one with stomach wounds, the other with leg injuries.

CRASH KILLS HORSE

Meanwhile, in Dublin last weekend, a couple narrowly escaped serious injury when a stray horse on the busy N32/Malahide Road near Clarehall collided with their car. One of the occupants had to be cut from their wrecked vehicle by the Fire Brigade. The horse died in the incident.

Dublin Fire Brigade also attended an incident where a stray horse in Cappagh was impaled on a railing.

There were also several incidents of horses straying onto the Luas line near Bluebell and more loose horses on road at Clondalkin and the Ratoath Road, near Finglas.

The My Lovely Horse Rescue group said among them was the same horse they rescued from drowning in the canal recently.