EU investigation launched after RTÉ documentary highlighted abuse of horses
James Cox
Investigations have been launched by the EU Commission after an RTÉ documentary which highlighted illegal slaughtering and traceability defects among hundreds of horses killed for human consumption.
After it received material from RTÉ Investigates, the European Commission issued alerts for horses slaughtered in Ireland, Italy, and Spain, because there was evidence animals should have been removed from the food chain - or they had been declared dead a considerable time - before they were supposed to have been slaughtered.
The material compiled during research by RTÉ raised issues beyond Ireland and highlighted significant concerns related to other EU member states.
The resulting non-compliance notices were issued in recent weeks through the Commission’s Agri-food network, which shares information among EU member states on potential fraud cases.
On Wednesday night, RTÉ broadcast the findings of its investigation, which involved compiling and comparing a large number of datasets held by countries and bodies across Europe.
Included in the documentary was evidence of illegal activities to change the identities of horses and compromise the integrity of the human food chain at a site connected to Ireland's only active abattoir for horses, operated by Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co Kildare.
The report also showed undercover footage in which experts said was the microchipping of horses by Shannonside Foods staff prior to being sent for slaughter.
Significant issues around how horses are processed for human consumption through slaughterhouses in mainland Europe were also detailed.
In April, after it received material from RTÉ Investigates, the European Commission issued non-compliance notices in respect of 332 horses slaughtered in Ireland, Italy, and Spain. The notices identified the issue as “illegal slaughtering, traceability defects".
In the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said he was "sickened and appalled" at what was contained in the reporting broadcast so far, adding it is now the subject of a "thorough investigation" by the Department of Agriculture.
He said the Government "unreservedly condemns" what was shown in the programme, adding the "full force of law" will apply if breaches are proven in court.
