Source: Twitter@NI_ALLO“Shocked and appalled”.
Gardaí have launched an investigation after footage of a four lane a sulky race on motorway in Co Dublin emerged at the weekend.
The video, circulating on social media, shows two horses and carts travelling at speed down the inbound lane of the N7 motorway in Citywest.
Gardaí say they are aware of the video and have asked anyone with information to contact them.
This is appalling. Sulky racing in Dublin. Appears to be near City West by Brown’s Barn on the Naas Road inbound. pic.twitter.com/aHLYZyClU6
— Niall O'Connor (@NI_ALLO) February 19, 2020
Meanwhile the ISPCA have said they are ''appalled'' by the footage.
In a statement today, The ISPCA said is “shocked and appalled” by the incident, adding it has been calling on the Government to deal “with not only the public safety issue but also the serious animal welfare concerns caused by sulky racing and training”.
Driving horses, particularly young horses, on hard road surfaces can result in serious injuries and collisions with vehicles has resulted in the death of horses in the past, it said.
“The ISPCA believes that the Department of Agriculture should work with local authorities to identify safe, off-road areas for sulky users where the activity can be regulated appropriately.
“An Garda Síochána already have sufficient powers under the Road Traffic Act to deal with the reckless and dangerous driving seen in the video and local authorities have powers to seize any horse that is not microchipped.
“However, we recognise that it would have required significant resources to deal with the incident which featured in the video,” the ISPCA said.
