There are renewed calls on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to shut down greyhound racing following a major breach of social distancing guidelines at a Cork track just hours after a record 8,248 new cases of COVID19 were confirmed in Ireland.
Greyhound Racing Ireland video footage from Curraheen Park yesterday (8 January 2021) shows a group of greyhound owners/trainers blatantly ignoring the government's social distancing advice to maintain a 2-metre distance.
Despite the stadium being virtually empty, the individuals at Curraheen Park were seen standing next to each in clear breach of HSE guidelines which state: “Social distancing is important to help slow the spread of COVID19. It does this by minimising contact between people. You should keep a space of 2 metres (6.5 feet) between you and other people”
Individuals were also seen in close proximity at Shelbourne Park stadium last night.
They are the latest in a long list of social distancing breaches identified at tracks and highlighted to Minister Donnelly https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/albums/72157713579485482
The multiple, ongoing breaches make a mockery of public health guidelines. It’s time for the government to finally act to shut down all greyhound tracks.
While most people are being told to stay within 5km of home, those involved in greyhound racing have been exempted from the Level 5 restrictions and remain free to travel from all corners of the country to attend races. There are fears that greyhound racing meetings are contributing to the spread of COVID19.
“We implore you to urgently act in the interests of public health and stop all greyhound racing,” ICABS stated in a renewed appeal to Minister Donnelly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. “Greyhound racing is entirely incompatible with social distancing. Typically at the start of each race, up to six greyhound owners lift greyhounds into the traps. Again, at the end of the races, the same six people rush in together to retrieve and remove their dogs to clear the track for the next race. With around 10-13 races per meeting and six greyhounds per race, this means that there are up to 60-78 owners/trainers coming into close contact at the beginning and end of races at each meeting.” [In stark contrast, just 10 mourners are currently allowed to be at funerals and 6 at wedding ceremonies/receptions whether indoors or outdoors]
“Greyhound Racing Ireland assured the government that social distancing (which it acknowledged is ‘a critical measure to be observed by all’) would be ‘fully observed at all times’ at tracks. This has certainly not happened,” we added.
Greyhound Racing Ireland is continuing to try and hide damning scenes of social distancing breaches at tracks. After races, the video is swiftly panned away to hide the moment six people rush in to get their dogs. In other cases the footage is purposely darkened to obscure the view - See https://www.grireland.ie/videos/videos/?raceid=MGR_2020_11_23_03
ACTION ALERT
Contact Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar today and urge them to shut down greyhound racing NOW.
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself and your family at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
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