We did not know about the thousands of horses sent over to die in UK

Department of Agriculture officials deny knowledge of slaughters

GOVERNMENT officials here have denied they were aware that ‘thousands’ of ex-racehorses, previously trained in Ireland, were being sent for slaughter to British abattoirs.

It emerged in an investigative programme that racehorses killed in British slaughter plants had been transported from Ireland, with some travelling more than 560km by road with critical injuries.

It is illegal under Irish and European law to transport a horse in a way that is likely to ‘cause it injury or undue suffering’.

In the BBC1 Panorama exposé, which aired on Monday night, it found that most of the 4,000 racehorses were Irish-trained.

Covert recording also appeared to show serious breaches of regulations at slaughter plants.

A number of Government officials appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, where it was denied that the animals are slaughtered in the same manner in Ireland.

Dr Kevin Smyth, assistant secretary general at the Department of Agriculture, said he had ‘no idea’ what was happening.

‘I categorically knew nothing about this until I saw what was on last night,’ he said yesterday. ‘I had no inkling whatsoever.’

The agriculture department’s deputy chief veterinary officer Michael Sheahan also told the committee it was illegal to transport injured horses long distances. ‘If it was the case that the animal was loaded on a box and transported 200 miles, that’s clearly illegal,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure that was the case. He could have been injured en route.’

The BBC footage captured dozens of horses apparently shot by a slaughterman seen standing yards away. Mr Sheahan told the committee that method of slaughter is not used in Ireland.

He said he has been involved in horse slaughter for 20 years. He added: ‘I’m happy to say that we’re very satisfied with the way things operate in the slaughter plant here... We have a full-time official Department of Agriculture vet present at all times when the slaughter is taking place.’

Independent senator Rónán Mullen said what emerged in the programme was ‘extremely disturbing’. He added: ‘It is hard for us to believe you are very surprised at what went on in the documentary last night. I think most people will feel that you had a fair idea for some time that this kind of thing is going on.’

Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty said Panorama footage was ‘harrowing’ and that that Ireland has an issue with horse ownership traceability that the department has an ‘onus’ to tackle it.

‘Extremely disturbing’