Madam, - What a sad reflection on the state of animal welfare in Ireland that protest at the very public abuse of animals at the Ballinasloe Horse Fair should, this past week, be left largely to journalists and members of the public.
The incidents of cruelty and breaches of the law have been well-aired by now and would have been readily apparent to anyone visiting the fair, as I did last Monday. How, then, can the ISPCA, the very body charged with protecting animals, be publicly quoted as defending this medieval free-for-all?
Why also was the ISPCA not publicly and vigorously challenging the fair organisers about the serious lack of access to drinking water for the hundreds of animals crammed into the fairground?
Why was it not publicly demanding that the sulky run be disbanded so that some relief might be afforded the young and frightened horses who were being ridden into the ground? How could the dozens of people openly selling adult dogs and pups as pets be allowed to so brazenly break the law in full view of ISPCA inspectors and members of the Garda Síochána?
If the ISPCA is to retain credibility in the struggle to improve the lives of our fellow creatures, then it will have to start addressing the political issues which surround the institutionalised abuse of animals. - Yours, etc,
NUALA DONLON, Galway Alliance for Animal Rights, Knocknacarra, Galway.
Madam, - Eileen Battersby's account of events at the Ballinasloe Horse Fair made for terrible reading (The Irish Times, October 3rd and 4th). I have no doubt as to the veracity of her account. Nor can anyone else who has been to the event with truly opened eyes. It is a disgrace for the West, a disgrace for the Garda Síochána and a disgrace for Ireland.
I am reminded of the words of the writer Milan Kundera: "Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals. And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it." - Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE WICKS, Canrawer, Co Galway.
Madam, - My compliments on Eileen Battersby's reports on the Ballinasloe Horse Fair. It is great to see The Irish Times taking an interest in such matters.
I was shocked to read that she was actually assaulted by gurriers. - Yours, etc,
CREEDA FITZGIBBON, Nutley Road, Dublin 4.