Sinn Féin Councillor John Hearne has asked the mayor for the Metropolitan District, Adam Wyse, to write to the government and request national laws be changed regarding sulky racing.
Cllr. Hearne contends that Waterford Council have done as much as they can to protect horses used for sulky racing but they need national support.
“Could I ask you to write again and take on the issue of the sulky racing?” asked Cllr. Hearne. “There was a terrible case there last week where a horse was raced to death and it was pregnant. The horse and the foal were lost. I think it’s an awful thing that it happens.
“I think that law has to be changed. Every time we bring it to the Council, we’ve passed motions, we’ve done all we can. It’s a national law that has to be passed, you could ask the government to bring it in,” he said.
“We keep hearing it can’t be done and the guards cant check this,” continued Cllr. Hearne. “We see the multi-agency checkpoints they can put up for trucks and cars and all the rest.
“There is no reason they can’t include the safety of the horses. And we have a duty of care to the kids on the back of them if they fall off and get injured.”
Mayor Wyse replied to say that the laws and Gardaí advice must be followed by those involved in sulky racing.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
