THEY say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that old adage rang true for Ireland’s equine sector on Wednesday evening with the airing of RTÉ Investigates’ Horses - Making A Killing documentary.

Anger and disgust have been palpable since the broadcasting of the utterly depressing scenes that took place inside the Shannonside Foods Ltd abattoir in Straffan. The apparent animal abuse caught on hidden camera was disgraceful. The attitudes, despicable. The failure of the systems involved, damning.