Animal cruelty shame

ON watching the distressing report of the abuse, mutilation and ultimate death of the horses in Cork I wonder how we can call ourselves human beings when we tolerate and never punish the thugs who commit these barbaric acts?

The main focus of gardaí is criminal activity, but surely deliberately setting a defenceless animal on fire should be regarded as a serious crime.

Our reputation in the area of animal welfare is not something that we can be proud of, many of our European neighbours consider us barbaric and cruel in our attitude to animals.