GARDAÍ have appealed to the public for help as they investigate a disturbing case of horse cruelty which led to an outcry on social media.

Horrific footage was captured by an eyewitness of a collapsed horse, attached to a sulky cart, being dragged along the Heywood Road, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, on Wednesday. An arrest was made yesterday.

Gardaí released a statement on social media, saying: “There has been significant progress into the investigation of animal cruelty which occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Heywood Road, Clonmel.

“We would like to thank the public with the information that has been provided to date in support of the investigation.

“We are working closely with the Department of Agriculture and Tipperary County Council who are supporting An Garda Síochána with our investigation.

“Again, we are appealing to the public, if you witnessed the incident either before or after it took place, please contact Clonmel Garda station at 052 6177640 or the Garda confidential line 1800 666 111.”

REGULATION

In response to the incident, The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) released a statement saying they are working with the Gardaí on this incident.

An ISPCA spokesperson said: “It is not acceptable that any animal is pushed to the point of collapsing.

“Anyone who owns an animal has a legal obligation to provide for their welfare needs and a failure to do so can result in them being held to account.”

The ISPCA has renewed its call for the regulation of all horse drawn vehicles on public roads after a series of incidents involving sulky racing and driving on public roads. In some cases, horses were killed and propery damaged.

Members of the public were asked to report animal welfare concerns to the ISPCA on their National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or report cruelty online in confidence on www.ispca.ie/cruelty_complaint