Animal welfare charity condemns use of horses in Citywest protest

Ottoline Spearman

Animal welfare charity My Lovely Horse Rescue has condemned the use of horses in the violent protests that happened at Citywest on Tuesday night.

Horses were taken into the crowd by protestors, with some ridden bareback, and others forced to pull sulkies through the crowd. The animal charity said that the horses were used as tools of intimidation.

Five people have been charged with public order offences after gardaí were attacked with missiles and fireworks during the protest at the Citywest hotel in Dublin, which is being used to house asylum seekers.

The protests erupted after a girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in the area on Monday evening. This was the second day of protests - but the first day that the protests had turned violent.

Co-founder of the charity Martina Kenny said that the charity were "deeply saddened" by the news but "not surprised".

"These individuals are breaking multiple laws, terrifying communities, and placing both people and animals at serious risk," she said.

Riding horses through public spaces, onto roads, into shops and across green areas is not culture, it is cruelty and lawlessness.

“Many of those involved should not have horses under the existing Control of Horses Act, yet weak enforcement allows this behaviour to continue unchecked. By doing nothing, we are enabling a pattern of abuse, neglect, and public danger that is escalating before our eyes."

Last week, the charity told DAFM about the need for a coordinated, mulit-agency response. They said that they would convene and chair Ireland’s first national Multi-Agency Working Group to address the issue, in the absence of a designated state body.

The Terms of Reference will be published next week.