ANIMAL welfare inspectors are facing threats of violence and intimidation while investigating cases of suspected cruelty to horses, according to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
One incident - involving a poster warning a DSPCA spokeswoman to stay away from the monthly Smithfield horse fair - has been linked to the Dublin Horse Owners' Association, which opposes the Government's new Control of Horses Bill. The DSPCA has been at the forefront of the campaign to have legislation on horses introduced.
Ms Therese Cunningham, the society's spokeswoman, said one inspector's family had been threatened and his van burned out in a series of attacks on his home in north Co Dublin.
The most recent incident involved an attack on two inspectors trying to rescue a dying horse in Ballyfermot, Dublin. While trying to persuade the animal's owner to have the horse put to sleep on the recommendation of a veterinary surgeon, the owner threatened them with a lump hammer. The inspectors had to leave the area under a Garda escort.
Ms Cunningham said she was attacked and threatened two weeks ago while being interviewed on the plight of urban horses by a television crew from the Channel 4 programme Absolutely Animals.
Inspectors are also being intimidated at the monthly Smithfield Horse Fair, the DSPCA says. At last month's fair, posters warning Ms Cunningham to stay away were hung on lamp posts in the Smithfield area. The posters were linked to the Dublin Horse Owners' Association.
Ms Victoria McElligot, secretary of the Dublin Horse Owners Association, said her organisation did not condone attacks on the DSPCA. However, she acknowledged that a member of her group had hung the posters in Smithfield. "The posters were hung by one person from my association and not by our association. Ms Cunningham has a job to do and most of the time is facilitated by horse owners. The person who hung the posters has been reprimanded by my association over the incident."
The DSPCA monitors the health of animals being sold at the market each month. It has reported an increase in cruelty to horses since the beginning of the year. Over 75 horses have died or been put to sleep by the society so far.
"Many pony clubs and horse projects have started up since the publication of the horse control legislation. These propose to educate young people in the care and management of horses and they want council lands to be set aside for this. However, these groups are never around when horses are dying or being cruelly treated", Ms Cunninam said.
"Many horse owners are apprehensive about the introduction of the legislation, but it will only affect owners who fail to care for their animals or who ill treat them", she said.