Minister pledges full investigation into 'abhorrent' abuse of horses shown in RTÉ programme
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The Minister for Agriculture has said the illegal "abhorrent and distressing" treatment of animals featured in an RTÉ investigation into the horse industry will be fully investigated.
was broadcast on RTÉ One on Wednesday evening. Part two airs on Thursday night.
For the programme, journalists for the broadcaster went undercover and used hidden cameras to expose the horrific abuse taking place in the Irish and European equine industries.
In particular, the programme highlighted activities in a lairage used by Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co Kildare - Ireland's only licensed equine abattoir.
Footage captured showed, among other things, horses being repeatedly punched around the head, whipped, and struck with long lengths of plastic piping.
After becoming too weak to stand, one horse was seen collapsing. It was later prodded with a pitchfork. Sadly, the animal died after hours of struggling. It was then dragged out of the shed the following day.
On Thursday morning, Charlie McConalogue said the scenes shown in the programme and the treatment endured by the horses was absolutely unacceptable.
"It's certainly not representative of the way that people across this country and those in the industry treat and care for their horses. We already have commenced an investigation in the Department of Agriculture.”
The Minister said that his department has requested all the footage from RTÉ and other evidence for their investigation.
“We have a wonderful horse racing industry in this country," he said.
Mr McConalogue pledged that "no stone will be left unturned" in the Department's investigation into the matter.
However, he said it was impossible to guarantee that violence against animals was not continuing.
“You can never be sure that somebody is not mistreating in any avenue of life. But what we have in place is very strict laws and very strict penalties in relation to that," he told RTÉ Radio's .
The Minister also said he was sure the majority of people involved in the country's equine industry were "massively respectful and provide tremendous care to their horses".
"But you can have instances, where people mistreat and break that law. And certainly, the instances we saw last night, speak to that and, the full rigors of the law now will be brought to bear in relation to the evidence that's been brought to us," he added.