A LIMERICK councillor has spoken of her horror after having to personally organise the removal of two dead horses from fields in the city.
Aontú’s Sarah Beasley told the Limerick Post the animals, who had been cruelly treated and discarded, were discovered in Castletroy and Thomondgate.
The City North representative described this as “one of the most horrible, traumatic, and distressing experiences of my life”.
One case, she revealed, involved a mare whose foal had been standing over her body for three days.
“Then somebody actually placed wooden pallets over the dead mare’s body in an attempt to hide her. I was shocked and disgusted, to say the least,” Cllr Beasley said.
She maintains that while there are good, responsible horse owners in Limerick, there is a cohort who simply do not care for or respect their animals.
“This has to end,” she hit out.
“Disturbingly, animal rescue charities are reporting a spike in cruelty cases and are on their knees as a result. ISPCA staff have also been threatened, intimidated, and harassed as they tried to protect animals in the city.
“I have made repeated pleas for a full-time ISPCA inspector or a dedicated Garda Unit, but they have gone unheeded. It is almost seven years since Limerick has had a dedicated ISPCA Inspector. It is an out-and-out disgrace.”
Cllr Beasley brought a motion to Limerick Council for a dedicated Garda Unit, which received the backing of fellow councillors. However, she says that the Chief Superintendent replied that no such unit would be established, as the Department of Agriculture holds primary responsibility and Gardaí lack the resources.
“Nobody is taking responsibility. When you ring to report an animal being abused or starving, you are told to contact animal welfare – but they don’t have the capacity. You are then told to ring the Department of Agriculture. It is a merry-go-round, and animals are suffering because of it,” she said.
Cllr Beasley, who has co-written two Dáil bills on animal theft and cruelty, added: “Animal charities are playing a blinder but they are stretched to the limit. ISPCA inspectors must be protected, and anyone threatening or intimidating them should face the full rigours of the law. We have to be the voice of these animals – because they cannot speak for themselves. I will not rest until a full-time ISPCA inspector is employed in Limerick.”