UNIFIL to convey Irish anger to Israel over shooting incident
Hunter Williamson, Freelance journalist, brings us the latest from Lebanon, where Irish troops came under fire while taking part in a joint Irish UNIFIL & Lebanese Armed Forces patrol.
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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's animal welfare system is unfit for purpose and animals are suffering because of it
You smell it before you see it. Rotting straw. Faeces. Sour milk. The air inside an illegal puppy farm hits your throat like poison. Tiny puppies, barely more than bone, shiver in wire crates. Their mothers lie silent in the dark, bodies worn out, teats raw from relentless breeding. No daylight. No clean water. No kindness. And this is happening in Ireland. Right now. In sheds, garages, and backyards, hidden in plain sight. We don't need to look abroad for horror stories. We are living one. Ireland often describes itself as a nation of animal lovers. But behind that image lies a system on the brink, where cruelty too often goes unchecked and compassion is stretched to breaking point. Shelters are full. Rescuers are burning out. Animals are dying. Across the country, animal rescues are at crisis point. Dogs are being surrendered or euthanised in record numbers. These are not only strays, but pets bred for profit and discarded when no longer wanted. Common reasons include: 'Too much work.' 'Too rough with the baby.' 'No time anymore.' Ponies are mistreated in housing estates. Horses are dragged along national roads by children on e-scooters. These are dangerous acts that threaten both animal welfare and public safety. Inside unlicensed breeding operations, female dogs are bred over and over, sometimes re-impregnated just weeks after giving birth. The damage to their bodies and minds is immense. Picture: ISPCA Meanwhile, puppies bred in filthy sheds are sold through unregulated online platforms and private messaging apps. Some are taken in by irresponsible owners or used for more backyard breeding. In some reported cases, there are links to dog fighting. When breeding females are no longer profitable, they are quietly destroyed or abandoned. The public usually sees only a fraction of this, a Facebook post, a call for help. But behind every image is an exhausted volunteer, an unpayable vet bill, and a shelter with no room left. This is not a temporary crisis. It is a national abandonment. Inside unlicensed breeding operations, female dogs are bred over and over, sometimes re-impregnated just weeks after giving birth. The damage to their bodies and minds is immense. Under Irish law, anyone can keep up to five breeding females without registering as a dog breeding establishment. This loophole enables individuals to sell dozens of puppies every year with little oversight, often untaxed and unregulated. This is not care. It is industrial-scale reproductive abuse. Ireland is often referred to as the puppy farm capital of Europe, and with good reason. Legislative loopholes, low enforcement capacity, and political inertia all contribute to this ongoing cruelty. Political momentum is growing, but action is what matters. In recent months, a number of TDs have raised concerns in the Dáil: Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny has called for a national plan to tackle horse abuse; Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl highlighted welfare issues in housing estates; Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan questioned enforcement failures in Cork North Central; People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy proposed a taskforce to shut down illegal breeding operations; Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart urged the appointment of a national director of animal welfare; Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said: 'This approach to horse welfare is ludicrous, grossly unfair to the horses, and presents a woeful image of our towns and cities.' These are important voices, and their support is welcome. But statements alone won't save animals. We need enforcement, legislation, and real resources. Animal cruelty does not happen in isolation. It is a well-established warning sign for other forms of violence: In Ireland, 57% of women in domestic violence refuges report pet abuse by their partners; In the UK, 70% of domestic abuse survivors say their pets were harmed or threatened; In the US, the FBI tracks animal cruelty as a high-level offence. Ninety-six percent of offenders also face charges such as domestic violence or child abuse; In Canada and Australia, animal abuse is considered in child protection and domestic violence risk assessments. One encouraging initiative: the DSPCA now provides temporary foster care for pets belonging to domestic abuse victims. This trauma-informed service saves lives. But it is the exception, not the norm. We urgently need a coordinated national framework. The Department of Agriculture currently holds responsibility for both promoting animal industries and regulating their welfare. This structural conflict makes truly independent oversight difficult. Picture: ISPCA The Department of Agriculture currently holds responsibility for both promoting animal industries and regulating their welfare. This structural conflict makes truly independent oversight difficult. This is not an accusation. It is a call for reform. Enforcement must be independent, properly resourced, and free from commercial influence. Many gardaí want to act. But without a national structure, clear protocols, or proper training, they are often left unsure of what they can do, who to contact, or how to respond safely. We urgently need an animal welfare crime unit within An Garda Síochána. Such a unit would: Investigate and prosecute cruelty and illegal breeding; Track repeat offenders; Share data between shelters, councils, and gardaí; Integrate animal abuse into wider safeguarding systems. Ireland's animal welfare system is not just in crisis. It is collapsing. But the solutions are in plain sight. We need independent enforcement. Stronger laws. Reliable funding for shelters. Gardaí who are trained and empowered. And a commitment to treat cruelty not as a niche concern but as a sign of deeper harm in our society. If we fail to act, we're not just failing animals. We're failing ourselves. Because every day without action is another day an animal suffers in silence. Kerry Pollock is head of animal welfare advocacy at My Lovely Horse animal rescue Read More Gardaí investigate viral horse cruelty video after searching farmland in Co Tipperary
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Post-mortem examination due on body of Carlow gunman
A post-mortem examination will take place this morning on the body of a man who died following a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Carlow town on Sunday evening. The body of the deceased man, 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald from near Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, was taken from the scene yesterday afternoon to Dublin, where a full postmortem will be carried out today by the state pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers. The deceased was out on bail on firearms charges, and the garda investigation will look at how he came to obtain the shotgun which was fired into the air at the Fairgreen shopping centre, before he died from a self-inflicted wound. At a press conference yesterday afternoon, gardaí said that the shooting incident was "a terrifying experience for every person that was present". Gardaí said it had received multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in the town and responded at the scene, where they were met with a large number of people running from the premises. An unarmed uniformed unit arrived, where they observed the suspect - a white Irish man in his 20s - exiting the shopping centre. The suspect then discharged a shotgun into the air. Another plain-clothed armed garda unit responded with their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí. No garda shots were fired during the incident. The man who has died was described as having a fascination with guns when he was granted bail for firearm offences last year. Gardaí told a court he had apparently obtained guns for recreational use and not with criminal intent. He was granted bail on strict conditions. Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman from the Eastern Region said gardaí now understand that the man had walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm into the air on a number of occasions. She said nobody was injured by the shots discharged by the suspect. A young girl in the shopping centre with her parents sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the scene. Following the incident, gardaí implemented a cordon around the shopping centre and carpark. A bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by gardaí on the deceased, gardaí said. The army bomb disposal unit subsequently conducted examinations and declared the scene safe. Emergency services responded to the shooting shortly after 6pm yesterday evening An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer appointed to lead the investigation. A family liaison officer is providing support to the deceased's family, gardaí said. Meanwhile, Carlow County Council said it is supporting the HSE in the provision of psycho-social supports for people affected by the shooting incident. Further support is being provided today by the HSE at the Shamrock Plaza Primary Care Centre for those impacted by this incident. 'Gardaí have urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to gardaí at Carlow Garda Station. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who was at the shopping centre between 6pm and 6:30pm on Sunday night. They have also praised the management and business community at the shopping centre for their assistance, and they have said gardaí will work with the local community as it comes to terms with this incident.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish woman facing deportation after being arrested by Israeli police in Palestine as son tells of his pride
AN IRISH woman has been detained by Israel in the West Bank, according to an activist group. Deirdre 'D' Murphy, 70, was arrested by Advertisement 2 Israeli security forces block the entrance to the village of al-Tuwani in the Masafer Yatta area in Occupied West Bank on June 2, 2025 Credit: AFP Originally from Douglas in After Israeli soldiers ordered the activists to leave, the female activists were reportedly stopped while leaving the village by Israeli settlers serving as reservists with the military. The Israeli police were called and subsequently detained Murphy and Björk for being in a closed military zone. According to the International Solidarity Movement, Björk is now due to be deported while Murphy is fighting a deportation order while detained at Ben Gurion Advertisement Read more in News Murphy is a founding member of Swansea Palestine Community Link and was previously detained in Israel in 2011 when she travelled to the Jewish state with the Welsh pro-Palestine group. The 120-person community at Khalet al-Daba'a is one of a dozen Palestinian hamlets in Masafer Yatta located inside an area which the Israeli authorities designated as a military firing zone in the 1980s. After a long legal battle, Israel's Supreme Court approved the eviction of 1,000 residents from the villages in the occupied West Bank in 2022. Amnesty International says ongoing settler attacks and demolitions place communities in Masafer Yatta at risk of forcible transfer. Advertisement Most read in Irish News International law prohibits both the expropriation of occupied land for purposes that do not benefit the people living there, and their forcible transfer. Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, said: 'As far as I can see her only Israeli military says it began extensive ground operations in northern and southern Gaza 'D has always had a strong sense of justice and I know she could not sit at home while she knew her friends in Masafer Yatta and all of Palestine were suffering unnecessarily. 'I am very proud of my mother for sticking up for the basic human rights of her friends and trying to raise awareness of the injustices the Palestinian people are experiencing.' Advertisement The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. In 2024, the far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben Gvir established a special task force within Israel's West Bank police unit to target left-wing activists in the West Bank including foreign nationals and supporters of the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) movement. According to the Israeli outlet Haaretz, at least 16 foreign activists working with Palestinians in the West Bank have been detained and deported from Israel since October 2023. Activists often accompany Palestinian shepherds and farmers who are at risk of forced displacement, as well as violence from the IDF and local settlers while they work. Advertisement In 2024, the 2 Deirdre 'D' Murphy, 70, was arrested by Israeli police on Saturday in Masafer Yatta in the occupied region
