11 greyhounds found dead on France-bound ferry

Bord na gCon has said it will work with all relevant authorities to ensure those responsible for the deaths of 11 greyhounds, on The Oscar Wilde Irish Ferries vessel to France, are successfully prosecuted.

Bord na gCon, the Irish Greyhound Board, said it was “deeply shocked and horrified” by the discovery of the remains in a greyhound transporter in Cherbourg, France.

“We understand from initial investigations that the Gendarmes Maritimes and Port Surveillance Platoon at Cherbourg discovered 11 greyhounds which had tragically died due to suffocation in transit,” it said.

The board said that under European regulations, no animal of any species must be transported “unless it is fit for the intended journey and all animals must be transported in conditions guaranteed not to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering”.

“In addition, the transporter must ensure that all necessary arrangements are made in advance to minimise the length of the journey and meet all of the animals’ needs during the journey,” the board said in a statement.

“In conjunction with its own investigative procedures, Bord na gCon will also be providing every possible assistance to the French Maritime Authorities, the Department of Agriculture and any other relevant national authorities, to determine whether there has been a breach of the EU Animal Welfare Regulations,” it said.

“Bord na gCon, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, will endeavour to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prosecute those responsible.”

The Department of Agriculture said it was currently investigating, what it described as “this very serious incident”.