"Sickening" cruelty to horses prompts fresh call for a dedicated ISPCA inspector for Limerick

THERE are calls for the immediate appointment of an ISPCA inspector to Limerick city following two shocking incidents with dead horses.

In the past week, there have been two incidents with horses which have gained a lot of traction online.

Both incidents involved the removal of dead horses’ remains - one in Castletroy and one in Thomondgate.

Aontu Councillor Sarah Beasley, said these are “sickening” cases of animal cruelty and the calls for an inspector need to be renewed.

“This was one of the most horrible, traumatic and distressing experiences of my life. One case involved a mare whose poor 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 acknowledged that there are “good, responsible horse owners in Limerick”, but that there is “also a cohort who simply do not care for or respect their animals.”

READ ALSO: Young Limerick filmmakers shortlisted for national awards

She said responsibility for animal cruelty is not clear without a full-time ISPCA inspector or a dedicated garda unit, which Cllr Beasley was told would not be feasible.

“When you ring to report an animal being abused or starving, you are told to contact animal welfare - but they don't have capacity. You are then told to ring the Department of Agriculture. It is a merry-go-round, and animals are suffering because of it,” Cllr Beasley said.