Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on the Minister for Agriculture to instruct his Department to take over the running of the Abattoir at Shannonside Foods for full and complete oversight of all practices involving horses across the entire site while the investigation into the incredible cruelty shown on Prime Time Investigates continues and until it concludes.

Last night’s RTÉ Investigates programme showed shocking abuse and cruelty at Ireland’s only licensed equine abattoir at Shannonside Foods Ltd, Straffan, Co. Kildare.

Teachta Kerrane said:

“I firstly commend the RTÉ journalists who brought this issue to light in last night’s programme. It is investigative journalism at its best.

“There is no doubt that anyone who watched the programme last night was left utterly appalled at the cruelty displayed. The beatings, violence, and stabbing of horses was sickening, and it was hard to watch.

“It is clear that we need immediate action and full accountability. We know an investigation has been launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as well as by the Gardaí, and that the Department’s investigation has been underway for a number of weeks now.

“The investigation must be prompt, thorough and effective. The findings and actions taken on the back of this investigation must ensure such horrific mistreatment never happens again.

“While the investigation is underway and until it concludes, I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture to instruct his department to step in and take over the running of the Abattoir at Shannonside Foods for full and complete oversight of all practices involving horses across the entire site.

“With similar abuses shown to calves in an RTÉ Investigates programme around this time last year, it is clear that we need much stricter oversight of existing animal welfare laws and this needs to be across the board rather than after the fact, when such scenes are broadcast to our horror on our television screens.”