Chaos at funeral procession as horse crashes head first into car

Daily Record

2 days ago

The terrified animal was caught on camera crashing into the car amid a funeral procession.
Alarming footage has emerged of a terrified horse crashing head first into a car as the handler loses control of the animal on a busy road during a funeral procession.
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A leading animal rescue charity is now calling for a dedicated police-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit to investigate and act.
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The dramatic video footage shows a number of people driving carts and sulkies with horses and several more riding horses on the main R833 near Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on the Fonthill Road in Clondalkin, Ireland alongside a horse and carriage hearse, reports the Irish Mirror.
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Two other people on horses can be seen galloping along the green verge of the road as a number of vehicles including a bus pass in the opposite lane of the road.
One of the horses and carts then passes the hearse and someone on the cart is heard shouting 'No, no' and uses their hand to try and direct traffic out of the way.
The horse and cart break a red light as the driver of the cart continues to shout 'No, no,' as it approaches a junction at Liffey Valley Town Centre.
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The terrified horse then smashes head first into the back passenger door of a silver car that travels from Liffey Valley Town Centre.
An almighty bang is heard as the horse crashes straight into the car while the driver of the cart shouts 'F**king hell,' before the video stops with the horse lying on the road. It's understood the shocking incident happened on Monday, August 11.
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In a second video, captioned: 'Very very lucky I was,' shows the horse with his head and face swollen and stitched up. A person is heard saying 'Appreciate that,' as they hold a container of medication. Another person is heard saying: 'He has a good chance of healing there now if you mind him.'
A spokesperson for My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue charity condemned the incident calling it 'lawlessness and cruelty.'
The charity is now calling for a Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit; increased and sustained funds for rescues and modern, enforceable laws to protect animals and the general public.
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'On Monday in Clondalkin, a funeral procession of a road traffic victim became chaotic,' the spokesperson said. 'Horses galloping along footpaths, sulkies and traps weaving through traffic. Then, the crash. A terrified horse ran into moving vehicles. Left bleeding, with a deep cut across its head, lying on the tarmac as gardaí arrived.
'This is the reality. Road Traffic Act breaches – no regulation, no insurance, no roadworthiness. Public safety is ignored – pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers put at serious risk.
'Animal welfare – exhausted, terrified animals, injured in plain sight. This is not 'tradition. This is lawlessness and cruelty,' the charity's spokesperson said.
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They added: 'Increased, sustained funding for rescues – because we're the ones picking up the pieces. Modern, enforceable laws – to protect animals and the public.
'See something. Say something. Animal cruelty is a crime,' the spokesperson said, encouraging the public to sign their petition to demand urgent action.
'Every share, signature, and euro makes a difference. Let's make sure this doesn't happen again,' the spokesperson said.