Fianna Fail is being urged to end its support for cruel greyhound racing. The appeal follows the publication of a statement on its website which calls for greyhound racing to resume.
In a message to party leader, Micheal Martin, ICABS pointed out a glaring inaccuracy in the statement from Jackie Cahill TD (Fianna Fail, Tipperary).
Cahill falsely claims that "the greyhound sector has played its part during this pandemic and fully adhered to all the public health advice and restrictions". https://www.fiannafail.ie/cahill-calls-for-resumption-of-greyhound-racing-when-horse-racing-returns/
Fianna Fail has been told that video footage posted on the Irish Greyhound Board website shows track staff and greyhound owners/trainers blatantly ignoring the HSE/government social distancing advice to maintain a 2-metre distance from each other. Stadium staff could be seen standing next to each other and individuals in near-empty stands shoulder-to-shoulder watching dogs running by. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/albums/72157713579485482
There were multiple breaches of the COVID-19 guidelines after races finished when greyhound owners and trainers typically rush in to retrieve their dogs. The IGB attempted to hide this, with the video swiftly panning away. For some races, however, it was possible to see up to six greyhound trainers crowding in together to grab dogs. There are fears that some of this reckless behaviour at greyhound races may have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus in surrounding communities.
The Irish Greyhound Board has continued to claim that "greyhound racing successfully complied with all Covid 19 protocols" - despite evidence to the contrary on its own website.
“By publishing this inaccurate statement, Fianna Fail is complicit in perpetuating greyhound ‘industry’ misinformation,” we told Deputy Martin. “This is particularly objectionable given the fact that it relates to a failure to adhere to HSE guidelines aimed at safeguarding the public and slowing the spread of COVID-19.”
Disappointment has been expressed that the party is continuing to back greyhound racing - despite the many revelations of animal cruelty and killing. Last June, RTE Investigates exposed the horrors, including the annual killing of around 6,000 greyhounds now fast enough to win races. The documentary included horrifying scenes of greyhounds being shot in the head and dumped in a skip.
“This is not something Fianna Fail should be supporting,” we added. “The party should reconsider its stance on the issue - public opinion has decidedly shifted in relation to greyhound racing. This is clear from the continuing decline in attendance at tracks (down 50 per cent in the past decade, including drops in January and February of this year), multiple protests outside tracks and the rejection of greyhound racing by numerous companies (including Eir Sport, Dublin Bus, Air France, Electric Ireland, Tesco Ireland, Barry's Tea, FBD Insurance, etc, etc). Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, meanwhile, have stopped promoting greyhound racing due to fears that it damages Ireland's image as a tourist destination.”
ACTION ALERT
Urge Fianna Fail and party leader, Micheal Martin, to change its policy on greyhound racing and side with the majority who want to see an end to the the massive government grants that are keeping the cruel activity afloat.
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
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