Halting site residents warned as horse left to rot

The Department of Agriculture has issued warnings, about animal responsibilities, to residents of a halting site close to where a dead horse was left to rot in a field.

Veterinary officials, backed by gardaí, visited the site in Hollyhill, on the northside of Cork City yesterday, and served documents on several individuals outlining their responsibilities under equine legislation.

It follows the discovery of the dead animal near the halting site over the weekend. The animal, which appears to have died recently, was left to rot close to where other horses were grazing.

In a joint operation yesterday, Department of Agriculture officials, backed by several local gardaí, served documents on several residents of the halting site.

The documents, which are linked to new equine welfare laws, outline the responsibility of horse owners who allow animals to graze on unregistered land, and outline the consequences for those who flout the law.

The department officials are now expected to monitor compliance and take action if necessary.

The carcass was later removed for disposal.

DEAD HORSE beside Apple complex Hollyhill Cork. Photo taken 5pm today - there since Friday @corkcitycouncil @ISPCA1 pic.twitter.com/DLIQNKb66D

— Neil Prendeville (@NeilRedFM) March 29, 2015

There are about 10 families — up to 80 individuals, including more than 30 children — living on the halting site.

The area has been the focus of intense monitoring by Department of Agriculture officials since almost 40 horses were impounded in two separate operations in the Nash’s Boreen and Hollyhill areas of the city two years ago.

Some 13 animals, most of which were owned by members of the Traveller community, were impounded first during a tagging operation in March 2013.

In a follow-up operation a week later, some 25 horses were impounded amid concerns about grazing conditions and lack of fodder.

The crackdown was part of an inter-agency approach designed to clamp down on the city’s horse population.

All horses must be tagged and issued with passports, and where horses graze, the landowner must register the land with the department for equine use.

An ISPCA audit conducted on Cork’s horse population in 2013 found that there were about 400 animals grazing on land in the city and suburbs — most of which were grazing on the north-western outskirts of the city.

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