A new animal abuse scandal is rocking Ireland, the land of horses. Following a documentary broadcast by RTÉ, Ireland’s public television, the government promised to investigate serious abuse in a slaughterhouse of horses, particularly thoroughbreds that took part in horse racing. These revelations also raise fears in terms of food safety.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Dublin, Clemence Pénard
Horses repeatedly hit in the head, whipped. Another, too weak to stand, is pushed with a pitchfork, before finally collapsing. These are some of the abuses revealed by RTÉ, which filmed using hidden cameras a shed where horses are kept, in Kildare, west of Dublin, before being sent to the only slaughterhouse in licensed horses of Ireland.
Shannonside Foods, which runs the slaughterhouse, rejected the accusations in a statement.
Scenes « appalling and unacceptable »
The show also shows employees using fake identification chips and altering the distinctive white spots on horses with paint. Scenes described as “ appalling and unacceptable » Thursday by Irish Minister of Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
The documentary broadcast this Wednesday, June 12, also looks at European criminal networks, which disguise the identity of horses, even though they have been declared unfit for human consumption.
The maneuver consists in particular of assigning to the animals “ new passports » veterinarians, declared expert David Martin cited by Agence France-Presse, a practice which, according to him, “ compromises the food chain » and puts in “ hazard » his safety.
Thoroughbreds sent to slaughter days after their last race
Horses occupy an important place in Irish society. A true institution, horse racing alone could receive 76 million euros in support from the State this year.
According to data analyzed by RTÉ on thousands of horses sent to the slaughterhouse since 2023, most were thoroughbreds for racing, the others intended for sport or leisure.
Some arrived at the slaughterhouse, sometimes a few days after their last race, after careers in the hands of prestigious owners and trainers, according to the channel.
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), the sport’s umbrella body, said it would actively support any government or police investigation and said: deeply shocked » by the documentary.
Following these revelations, the government opened an investigation into the fate of equines when they are no longer fit to run.