Three teens suspected of beating horse to death
Three teenagers are alleged to be responsible for the incident, which happened in Waterford city last week and was discovered after a tip-off to Waterford SPCA.
Because of the nature of the horse’s injuries, experts believe she was beaten with a baseball bat and left hanging by the culprits, in the Catherine’s Grange area, after being stolen from a property near St Otteran’s Hospital.
Aged less than three years, the horse was bred by Patricia Edwards of the WSPCA but no longer owned by her, she said yesterday. “I’ve seen it all the time, dead horses, but when it’s one of your own... She wasn’t even broken in.” Those responsible should be brought to justice and named and shamed, she added.
Gardaí confirmed they are investigating, but it’s understood the three people alleged to have carried out the theft and assault are not identifiable from CCTV footage. “We’re asking for anyone with information to get in touch with us,” said a spokesperson.
According to Patricia Edwards, somebody saw three teenagers with the horse after she was taken from its owner’s property. “She was in a lovely home and they’re gutted about it,” she said. “She was lying under the tree when we got there.”
The WSPCA is also looking for information on an incident which happened three months ago, when a five-week foal was allegedly macheted to death.
