Greyhound owners and trainers from the three counties currently in COVID-19 lockdown, recklessly travelled out of the counties to races at Mullingar greyhound stadium, it has emerged.
The Westmeath Examiner revealed that “although the government reimposed strict lockdown restrictions on people living in Laois, Offaly and Kildare last Friday, August 7, due a spike in coronavirus cases, it is believed that trainers and dog owners from these counties travelled to the two meetings held in Mullingar last weekend.” https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2020/08/13/comprehensive-covid-response-in-place-at-mullingar-stadium-igb/
And while cinemas, swimming pools, bingo halls, theatres, galleries and gyms in Laois, Offaly and Kildare were all told to close again, horse racing courses and greyhound tracks in the three counties were allowed to remain open to hold races "behind closed doors".
The Westmeath Examiner reported that “the attendance at Mullingar Greyhound Stadium of dog trainers and owners from the three midlands counties currently under lockdown does not pose an undue threat as there is a ‘robust system in place to comply with Covid-19 protocols’, according to the Irish Greyhound Board.”
The article quoted Irish Greyhound Board CEO Gerard Dollard as claiming that the IGB has “at all times complied with government advice and directives in relation to greyhound racing”.
However, sickening video footage which emerged on Saturday - just hours after the Department of Health announced 200 new COVID-19 cases - showed numerous breaches of the HSE’s social distancing guidelines at tracks around the country. Watch the footage at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89_k0Pwk3U
Published on the Irish Greyhound Board website, the 15th August videos confirm that official government/HSE guidance is not being adhered to at tracks. This clearly states: “Avoid close contact with people - keep a distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between you and others.”
- At Shelbourne Park stadium in Dublin on Saturday, groups of up to 7 greyhound owners/trainers were seen rushing in together to retrieve greyhounds after races.
- At Waterford track, footage shows four to five greyhound owners/trainers next to each other collecting dogs after they finished races. Four individuals were also seen side by side putting greyhounds into the traps before the start of a race.
- At Tralee track, four greyhound owners were filmed standing next to each other at the start of a race.
- At Curraheen Park, Mullingar and Thurles tracks, there were apparent breaches of social distancing guidelines, with individuals seen standing alongside each other watching the races.
In a renewed appeal this week to Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, ICABS stated: “In the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID 19, it is imperative for you to order the closure of all greyhound tracks. The Irish Greyhound Board has claimed that 'social distancing [would] be fully observed at all times' but this is certainly not happening. Greyhound racing must not be allowed to continue.”
The latest video footage follows similar scenes in March before tracks were told to shut down. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/albums/72157713579485482
Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself and your family
www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
ACTION ALERT
Join us in urging the government to immediately close down greyhound tracks.
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: stephen.donnelly@oireachtas.ie
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Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
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Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
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