Latest news with #MyLovelyHorseAnimalRescue
The Irish Sun
7 days 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.
Daily Mirror
12-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Panicking horse crashes head-first into car during nightmare funeral procession
Shocking footage of an Irish funeral procession shows the moment a horse and cart broke free. Out of control, the horse ran through a red light and went head first into a car Dublin: Moment horse crashes into car during funeral procession Horrifying footage shows the moment a horse and cart broke away from a funeral procession and smashed head-first into a car. In one clip, a cart being pulled by horses can be seen next to a horse and carriage hearse during a procession in Clondalkin, a suburban village west of Dublin. As a number of vehicles including a bus pass on the opposite side of the road, two people can be seen galloping along the green verge of the road at speed. Then, one of the carts being towed by a horse appears to pick up speed. It comes after a woman vanished in car crash - then turns up months later with wild story. READ MORE: Mindless yobs damage 41 cars in vandalism rampage through sleepy market town A person on the cart could be heard shouting 'no' to try and direct traffic away, before running a red light and smashing into a car. The driver can be heard shouting ''f*****g hell' in the immediate aftermath of the shocking August 11 incident. A second video showed the horse with a swelling face and head and with stitches. A person in the video is heard saying: 'He has a good chance of healing there now if you mind him.' Since the incident, a leading animal rescue charity has called for an investigation. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue called what happened 'lawlessness and cruelty'. The charity is now calling for a police-led Animal Welfare Crime Unit; increased and sustained funds for rescues and modern, enforceable laws to protect animals and the public, the Irish Mirror reported. '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.
Irish Daily Mirror
12-08-2025
- 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
Irish Examiner
13-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Stepping it out at €610k Ledbury in Conna with nod to super hoofers Flatley & Monty's Pass
SUPER hoofers — human and animal — have ties with Ledbury, a gallopingly good split-level property in Conna. Ledbury's connections with speed and stamina are as follows: The Waterford joiner that built the staircase in Castlehyde for Lord of the Dance's Michael Flatley, also made the staircase at Ledbury; the horse that won the 2003 Aintree Grand National, Monty's Pass, trained in the yard next door. Staircase at Ledbury Amidst all this fancy footwork, it was inevitable that some of it would rub off on Ledbury which comes with its own stable yard and four loose boxes, each fitted with automatic drinkers, rubber matting and feed mangers. Four stables ready for new occupants There's a grass arena too, and a large feed and tack room (also for use as a covered hay barn) and there's a water supply to three drinking troughs in the fields around the house, where horses or ponies can graze to their hock's content. It's the kind of set-up you'd envisage as the dream buy for a family of horsey types. Ledbury didn't start out with its best hoof forward. In 1979, the year it was built, it was no more than an over-basement bungalow, owned by agricultural advisor John Anthony, who used the basement for offices. He sold it in 2012 to a UK-based couple, Jo and Patrick Clarke, who relocated from Derbyshire, after falling for the pretty Bride Valley village of Conna. The Clarke's took the bit between the teeth and re-ordered the house completely, upgrading every element, installing the new staircase, and ultimately delivering a high-end home, with a commendable B3 energy rating, and enough space (3,700 sq ft) for an entire yard of stable hands. In time, the house and three acres of grounds outgrew the Clarke's and they put it on the market in 2016 — whereupon it was spotted by a family looking to move out of a semi-d in Midleton's Broomfield to a detached home in the countryside. 'My wife Laura always had an eye out for a detached home with more room and when she saw Ledbury, she absolutely fell for it,' says current owner, Henry Switzer, who bought the property, next door to the yard of horse trainer Jimmy Mangan (Monty's Pass) in 2017. Although their kids are more focused on swimming pools than stables, the couple themselves knew a thing or two about horses. Laura had been involved in eventing and Henry had found himself 'of all places, on one of the German national studs outside Munich, while I was trying to become a sound engineer'. They put Ledbury to good use as a sanctuary for mistreated ponies, taking referrals from My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue. 'They were ponies that had been mistreated, so getting them to trust humans again— that was so, so rewarding,' Henry says. 'Like people, some horses are difficult and some are easy,' he adds. The Switzers also fostered a few lurchers and kept hens. 'What the house represented for us was freedom – to move around, to have animals, room for the kids to roam. It was very much a lifestyle choice for us,' Henry says. Among the loveliest features is the acre of landscaped gardens and the various patio and terrace areas that overlook them. The star of the show though is the first-floor roof top garden terrace, with spectacular views to the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains. The same views — spanning four counties — are served up to the sunroom, which opens onto the terrace, as does the first floor living room. Sensibly, the main daytime accommodation is upstairs — including the kitchen (with AGA) and family room. The kitchen at Ledbury Six bedrooms are spread across the two floors, with one in use as a library. The main downstairs bedroom has French doors to a patio and there's a conservatory to the rear. Rear terrace Henry says he will 'miss the views the most', but that it's time to move on as their kids' needs have changed. Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties is selling the five-bed Conna home with double garage and brings it to market with an AMV of €610,000. 'It's been redesigned and renovated to a very high spec and orientated to make the most of the spectacular views,' the agent says. She adds that it 'will excite families with an interest in horses, as well as fishing enthusiasts' as both the rivers Blackwater and Bride are nearby. Moreover the layout could easily accommodate guest accommodation or Airbnb, Ms Hegarty says. Conna village is within walking distance of Ledbury, the town of Midleton is a 20-minute drive, Fermoy is 10 minutes away, there's handy access to the Dublin motorway and Shannon Airport is 30 minutes by car. VERDICT: Quality home on beautiful grounds, ideal for horsey types. Successful bidder gains entry to the Winner's Enclosure.
