Latest news with #Garda-led
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Urgent action cry after ‘terrified' horse crashes into car on busy road during funeral procession as gardai launch probe
A number of carts and sulkies were travelling alongside the horse-drawn sulky 'URBAN COWBOYS' Urgent action cry after 'terrified' horse crashes into car on busy road during funeral procession as gardai launch probe GARDAI are investigating an incident where a 'terrified' horse crashed into a moving car during a funeral procession in Dublin 22. The horror crash, involving the horse-drawn sulky and car, occurred on Coldcut Road in Clondalkin at around 1.45pm on Monday. 3 A horse was injured after colliding with an oncoming car in Dublin Credit: Social Media Collect @MyLovelyHorseRescue 3 The horse-drawn sulky hit the car during a funeral Credit: Social Media Collect @MyLovelyHorseRescue Advertisement Footage circulated online of a horse galloping at speed down the Coldcut Road. A number of carts and sulkies were travelling alongside the horse-drawn sulky, some displaying funeral flowers. The horse-drawn sulky overtakes the hearse and the driver approaches lights at a crossroad. The person on the cart is heard shouting 'no' at traffic and the cart goes through a red light. Advertisement The horse then collided straight into the side of a back passenger door of a silver car that was coming from the Liffey Valley direction. A loud thud is heard, along with some shouting and the clip ends with the horse lying on the road. A vet rushed to the scene and treated the horse which survived the collision. But My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue charity blasted the 'urban cowboys' for putting 'blood on our streets' and demanded new animal protection laws and a garda-led animal welfare unit. Advertisement A spokesperson said: 'A funeral procession of a road traffic victim became chaos. 'Horses galloping along footpaths. Sulkies and traps weaving through traffic. Then the crash. 'A terrified horse ran into a turning car. Left bleeding, with a deep cut across its head, lying on the road as Gardai arrived.' The charity warned the 'reality' of the incident results in Road Traffic Act breaches and causes major animal welfare issues. They stressed there was 'no regulation, no insurance, no roadworthiness' and said pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers were put at 'serious risk' during the incident. Advertisement The animal rescuers said the horse was 'exhausted' and 'terrified' during the ordeal. The charity blasted: 'This is not tradition. This is lawlessness and cruelty.' CALLS FOR NEW UNIT My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue is calling for a Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit. They believe a dedicated garda unit would be 'empowered to investigate and act" on animal welfare issues. The Edenderry based charity told how they're left "picking up the pieces" after similar events. Advertisement They suggested that "increased" and "sustained funding" for rescues is urgently needed. The group is calling for "modern" and "enforceable laws" to protect animals and the public. INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED Gardai confirmed that they have launched an investigation into the horror incident. A garda spokesperson said: 'Gardai received a report of a road traffic collision involving a car and a sulky that occurred on Coldcut Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 at approximately 1.45pm on Monday, 10th August 2025. 'No injuries to persons were reported. Advertisement "A vet attended the scene and treated a horse which survived the collision. 'Gardai in Ronanstown are investigating this incident and are liaising with the relevant animal welfare organisations.' The charity has launched a petition to demand urgent action and appreciate any donations of support.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Garda probe after terrified horse crashes into car during funeral procession
WARNING: Some readers may find the following content distressing. An Garda Siochana has stated that animal welfare matters are 'taken seriously' as they continue to investigate a road traffic incident involving a car and a horse-drawn sulky that occurred during a funeral procession on Monday. This comes after we reported on Tuesday how shocking footage emerged of the terrified horse crashing head first into a car as the sulky handler loses control of the animal on a busy Dublin road during the funeral procession of a road traffic victim. In a statement to Irish Mirror on Thursday, a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: 'Gardaí received a report of a road traffic collision involving a car and a sulky that occurred on Coldcut Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 at approximately 1.45pm on Monday, August 10 at approximately 1.45pm. 'No injuries to persons were reported. A vet attended the scene and treated a horse which survived the collision. Gardaí in Ronanstown are investigating this incident and are liaising with the relevant animal welfare organisations. The spokesperson continued: 'An Garda Síochána has Animal Health & Welfare Liaison Inspectors nominated in each Garda Division, who liaise as necessary with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), and veterinary surgeons employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to assist members of An Garda Síochána in their duties. 'Local animal charities also provide valuable assistance to Gardaí. Although An Garda Síochána is not the lead agency for animal welfare, we take animal welfare matters seriously and encourage anyone with concerns for the safety and welfare of animals in their area to contact their local Garda Station or call the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111." The dramatic footage shows a number of people driving carts and sulkies with horses We also reported on Tuesday how this shocking incident has led to an animal rescue charity calling for a Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit empowered to investigate and act. The dramatic footage showed a number of people driving carts and sulkies with horses and several more riding horses on Colcult Road in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 near Liffey Valley Shopping Centre alongside a horse and carriage hearse on Monday, August 11. Two other people on horses are 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 out the hearse as the horse canters at speed along the road - and a person 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. The horse then crashes 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 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. In a second video, seen by Irish Mirror, 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 public. '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. The charity is now calling for a Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit empowered to investigate and act. '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. For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Chaos at funeral procession as horse crashes head first into car
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. A leading animal rescue charity is now calling for a dedicated police-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit to investigate and act. 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. 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. 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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. '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. 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Terrified horse crashes into car during chaotic funeral procession
WARNING: Some readers may find the following content distressing Shocking footage has emerged of a terrified horse crashing head first into a car as the handler loses control of the animal on a busy Dublin road during a funeral procession. A leading animal rescue charity is now calling for a dedicated Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit empowered to investigate and act. The dramatic video footage - seen by Irish Mirror - 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 alongside a horse and carriage hearse. Two other people on horses are 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 out the hearse as the horse canters at speed along the road - and a person 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. The terrified horse then crashes 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 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. In a second video, seen by Irish Mirror, 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 public. '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. The charity is now calling for a Garda-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit empowered to investigate and act. '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. The petition link is here: 'Every share, signature, and euro makes a difference. Let's make sure this doesn't happen again,' the spokesperson said. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Silence is allowing animal cruelty to thrive in our towns and cities
Across Irish towns and cities, from Dublin to Limerick, Cork, Drogheda, and beyond, urban horses are suffering in silence. Tethered to railings, trees, or lampposts without water or shelter, abandoned in parks or waste ground, or running loose through traffic, these animals are not just neglected, they're being failed by a broken system. This is not rural cruelty. It's urban neglect, unfolding in social housing estates and city fringes where poverty, disconnection, and lack of enforcement intersect. But this isn't just an animal welfare crisis. It's a public safety and social justice issue, and one that demands urgent Government action. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities can designate control areas where horses may not be kept without a licence. Most urban estates, especially in social housing, fall within these zones. To keep a horse legally, a person must: • Hold a valid licence; • Provide proper shelter, land, water, and food; • Ensure the horse is microchipped and registered with a passport. In reality, very few residents in disadvantaged communities have the resources to meet those requirements. Yet horses are still kept out of tradition, identity, or as a form of personal empowerment. The result is often heartbreaking: foals born into back gardens, horses tied to fences in blistering heat, or dumped to die in fields. Councils frequently impound these animals, and many are euthanised due to injury, illness, or being unclaimed. But this reactive cycle solves nothing and the suffering continues. To understand why this happens, you have to look beyond the rope around the horse's neck. In many cases, it's poverty, isolation, or intergenerational hardship that's holding that rope. For young people in these communities, a horse might be the only thing they feel they can control. For some families, it's a cultural tradition. For others, it's emotional survival in an environment lacking opportunity, structure, or hope. This does not excuse the cruelty but it explains the conditions. And it reveals a deeper truth: if we fix one, the other will benefit. Enforcement of animal cruelty laws is not just inconsistent, it's often absent. In Limerick, for example, fewer than 10 reports of animal cruelty were recorded in 2024, despite clear evidence of widespread suffering. This is not because cruelty is not happening, it's because people don't know how to report it, or don't believe anything will happen if they do. Without proper structures, even the best laws are meaningless. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue is calling on the Government to establish a dedicated, Garda-led animal welfare crime unit. This unit should: • Respond quickly to cruelty reports; • Support animal seizures and prosecutions; • Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, councils, and welfare charities; • Build public trust and increase accountability. But we also need to empower the public. That's why we're calling for a nationwide public awareness campaign, urging people to report all instances of animal cruelty — not to social media, but to An Garda Síochána, and then to the Department of Agriculture. If you witness: • A horse tethered without water, shelter or food; • A loose or injured horse or foal; • Beating, dragging, or physical abuse; • Dead or dying animals in public areas; • Animals kept in unsafe, backyard or overcrowded conditions . Report it immediately to An Garda Síochána — cruelty is a criminal offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Record the location, time, and any identifiable details. Photos or videos help, if safe to obtain. Then notify the Department of Agriculture for traceability and enforcement follow-up. Inform animal welfare groups like My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue if urgent care is needed. Silence allows cruelty to thrive. Reporting protects both animals and communities. What we're asking the Government to do: Establish a Garda-led animal welfare crime unit; Fund and launch a public information campaign encouraging cruelty reporting; Mandate cross-reporting between gardaí, the Department of Agriculture, and local authorities; Provide resources for early intervention, youth outreach, and education in high-risk areas. A tethered horse in a housing estate is more than an animal in distress, it's a mirror of the poverty, policy failure, and quiet suffering endured by many. But this can change. Support the animal, and the person behind the rope may find support too. Create a system that cares, and the cycle of cruelty will break. Protect animals, Protect people. Kerry-Anne Pollock is head of animal welfare for My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue Read More Ireland's animal welfare system is unfit for purpose and animals are suffering because of it
