Kildare senator slams sulky racing in Kildare as “absolute cruelty of the highest order”

A Kildare senator has slammed as “absolute cruelty of the highest order” the practice of sulky racing, specifically in Co Kildare.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin was speaking on the issue in the Seanad last week.

Senator O'Loughlin slated the practice of sulky racing – which she said has started “again” in Kildare – as “absolute cruelty.”

She told the Seanad: “Senator Andrews spoke about the horrific situation where a horse was killed in Clonmel. Only last night somebody brought it to my attention and sent me a photograph. I was glad I did not see the videos that are circulating. I could not look at them.

“They show the terror and the pain and the carnage on the roads. We cannot blame the 13-year-old who was in charge of the horse. We have to blame the people who put that 13-year-old in charge of the horse. It was absolute cruelty.”

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The Fianna Fáil Senator said that Senator Andrews had mentioned the case of another horse and an unborn foal that was killed in Ballyfermot, Dublin, and called for enforcement on sulky racing.

She added: “I see it has started again in Kildare. Sometimes the speed they go at is shocking. It is absolute cruelty of the highest order. We 100% need regulation around it and we will, again, ask the Minister for agriculture to come in.

“I know Senator Andrews has called for a debate on animal welfare. We are well overdue one and we need to include the sulky racing in that as well.”