Greyhound Racing Ireland's shameful targeting of children is “legal, unglamorous marketing to achieve corruption of the young” - Read John Tierney's Letter in this week's Dublin People ...
Dear Editor,
Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) are miming the words of a disgraced 70s glam rock star by asking children, ‘D’you wanna be in my gang, my gang, my gang’.
What can we assume from observing that the GRI, a commercial semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland, is actively targeting the child market.
In a 5-year strategic plan the GRI stressed the importance of “encouragement of the younger generation as spectators and regular attendees at greyhound race meetings”.
GRI tracks have for years been trying to lure children in to greyhound racing with offers of toy vouchers, free meals and colouring competitions.
Even the proceeds of the lucrative holy communion/confirmation circuit is encouraged to be disbursed at a night at the dogs.
Exposing young minds to greyhound racing with its inherent animal abuse while pouring the foundation for a potential adult gambling habit is child grooming under the guise of a greyhound racing jacket.
By involving children in recreational animal events parents are abdicating their responsibility to rearing children in an environment that is morally and socially acceptable.
It would be wrong to corral child abuse within the context of physical and sexual, but it should draw in the mental abuse of children either within a family setting or via a third party.
The GRI targeting of children is legal unglamorous marketing to achieve the corruption of the young.
Parents and guardians should resist and exercise parental responsibility by sending greyhound racing to the naughty step.
John Tierney
Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs
SEE ALSO:
Minister for Children urged to stop GRI's shameful targeting of children
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/03/12/minister-for-children-urged-to-stop-gris-shameful-targeting-of-children/
ACTION ALERT
Contact the Minister for Children and urge him to act to stop Greyhound Racing Ireland from targeting children through communion/confirmation party promotions, colouring competitions and school and sports club fundraisers. Tell him that gambling venues where dogs suffer and die could never be family-friendly and should be shut down.
Roderic O’Gorman TD (Green Party)
Minister for Children
Tel: 01-647 3000
Email: minister@dcya.gov.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rodericogorman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG
Don’t attend races or bet on racing.
Demand an end to the government’s massive grants to horse and greyhound racing – more than a €1.6 Billion handed over since 2001, including €91 million for 2023. Contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister now.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
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
Michael McGrath TD
Minister for Finance
Email: michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michael.mcgrath.1614
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mmcgrathtd
Please also sign our "Irish Government: Stop giving millions of euros to horse racing" petition
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euros-to-horse-racing
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM