The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has said it received more than 20 calls related to the illegal slaughter of animals in the capital this year.
The figure was revealed following reports to the society that two pigs had been slaughtered on a building site in Marlborough Street in the city centre on Saturday.
Under the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1935, and the Abattoir Act, 1988, it is illegal to slaughter an animal for human consumption outside a licensed slaughterhouse, except in exceptional circumstances such as disease control. Meat intended for human consumption must have come from approved slaughterhouses.
Under the legislation it is also incumbent on the person carrying out the slaughtering to ensure the animals are spared avoidable pain and suffering, and are not killed within the sight of a live animal.
Gillian Bird, education officer with the DSPCA, said though they had received more than 20 calls in relation to illegal slaughtering of animals, they had not been able to assist in any prosecutions.
"The cases are usually people killing . . . pigs and sheep.
"Generally it is not done as a sacrifice. The animal's throat is slit and it is decapitated, for food. Reports sometimes coincide with religious festivals."
Ms Bird said it was difficult to bring a prosecution because often by the time the society reached the site, the animal had been barbecued and there was nothing left but bones.
"The public are very reluctant to come forward as witnesses, especially neighbours. Quite often a landlord will tell us a tenant has an animal. We did take a sheep out of a house which we believed was destined to be slaughtered. It was in a bedroom hidden under a pile of coats when we called, with someone sitting on it."
She said ideally people coming into the country should be educated in relation to legislation governing slaughtering.
"If people are doing this themselves, there must be some gap in the market. Maybe they can't find a butcher who slaughters to their needs, or there may be a particular cut they cannot get here - that should be addressed."
Local authorities have the responsibility of approving slaughterhouses within their areas and investigating illegal activity in conjunction along with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said they could not comment on the Marlborough Street case at present.
