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Labour Party TD Sean Sherlock is shamefully pushing for a greyhound racing hellhole in Cork to remain open despite ongoing deaths and a recommendation that it be shut down.
Youghal track was the worst in the country for greyhound deaths in 2022. 36 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 16 were killed between January and December. That was the highest number of annual injuries and deaths at the track since records began.
It was reported last month that Greyhound Racing Ireland “intends to close [Youghal track] down”. This follows a recommendation in a GRI-commissioned Indecon economic report that the unpopular, loss-making track be shut.
Despite all the painful injuries and dog deaths, local pro-bloodsports TD Sean Sherlock – along with Fianna Fail's James O’Connor TD - want the track to remain open.
Over the past eight years alone, at least 109 greyhounds have suffered injuries at Youghal track and 51 were killed, sickening Greyhound Racing Ireland statistics show.
The latest deaths at the track included the killing of three greyhounds at a single meeting on 7th November 2022. The unfortunate dogs were destroyed after suffering hock fracture, wrist fracture and ruptured tendon. They were among five greyhounds injured at the meeting - the other two were treated for hock injuries.
Two greyhounds were also destroyed at a meeting on 30th May and another two at a meeting on 17th August. All four had suffered fractured hocks.
Greyhounds were also killed at trial events held at Youghal track. Two greyhounds who sustained hock injuries were destroyed at trials on 12 January and 26 March 2022.
Other injuries recorded at Youghal track included spinal injury, leg fracture, wrist fracture, toe fracture, shoulder injury and muscle injury.
Youghal greyhound track is a very unpopular venue with an average race meeting attendance in 2021 of just 87 and a mere 82 average in the first five months of 2022. It is understood that the "attendance" at Youghal track was mostly made up of greyhound owners and trainers and NOT paying members of the public.
At tracks around Ireland since 2014, at least 3,050 greyhounds suffered injuries and 1,060 are known to have been killed. The Irish Greyhound Board figures are based on “reported” injuries and deaths, suggesting that the actual number could be even higher. They do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere, or the thousands of greyhounds who are killed every year because they are not fast enough to win races.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Sean Sherlock TD and tell him to show compassion for the dogs who suffer and die at Youghal track and stop pushing for the hellhole to remain open.
Tel: (022) 535 23 or (087) 740 2057 or (01) 618 4049
Email: sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeanSherlockTD
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@seansherlocktd
Ask Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik to update the party's animal welfare policies to include a ban on greyhound racing, hare coursing and fox hunting.
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
SEE ALSO:
Resistance to plan for Youghal greyhound track closure
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41053814.html
Youghal track the WORST for greyhound DEATHS in 2022
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/02/09/youghal-track-the-worst-for-greyhound-deaths-in-2022/
At least 122 greyhounds killed in racing in 2022
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/02/08/at-least-122-greyhounds-killed-in-racing-in-2022/
Watch the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
REPORTED INJURIES AND DEATHS AT YOUGHAL TRACK
2022: 36 injuries, 16 deaths
2021: 20 injuries, 7 deaths
2020: 11 injuries, 9 deaths
2019: 10 injuries, 6 deaths
2018: 13 injuries, 6 deaths
2017: 07 injuries, 1 death
2016: 05 injuries, 3 deaths
2015: 07 injuries, 3 deaths
Injuries and deaths at Youghal track (2022)
3rd January 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
12th January 2022, Leg Fracture, Euthanised
2nd March 2022, Fractured Hock, Treated
18th May 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
23rd May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
30th May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
30th May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
6th June 2022, Hock Injury, Euthanised
8th June 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
25th July 2022, Hock Injury, Treated
27th July 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
15th August 2022, Spinal Injury, Euthanised
15th August 2022, Shoulder Injury, Treated
17th August 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
17th August 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
24th August 2022, Toe Injury, Treated
7th September 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
14th September 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
14th September 2022, Leg Injury, Treated
14th September 2022, Muscle Injury, Treated
10th October 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
26th October 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
2nd November 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
7th November 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Ruptured Tendon, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Wrist Fracture, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
7th November 2022, Hock Injury, Treated
9th November 2022, Wrist Injury, Euthanised
9th November 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
14th November 2022, Leg Fracture, Euthanised
16th November 2022, Leg Injury, Treated
16th November 2022, Toe Fracture, Treated
21st November 2022, Leg Fracture, Treated
21st November 2022, Wrist Fracture, Treated
5th December 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated