According to locals, the horse was abandoned and left to die following alleged illicit activity.
A Garda investigation is currently under way following the death of a horse that locals say was abandoned and left to die in a Cork city housing estate yesterday.
Gardaí at Mayfield were called to Hawthorn Mews on Dublin Hill just after 5pm on Tuesday afternoon where they found the horse on a road in the estate. The horse subsequently died and was removed by Cork City Council at 7pm.
According to locals, the animal had been involved in sulky racing before collapsing to the ground. The horse was then abandoned and left to die.
Sulky racing, otherwise known as harness racing, is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait. They usually pull a two-wheeled cart, called a sulky, which is occupied by a driver.
Legislation to propose a ban on sulky racing on Irish public roads was introduced in the Dáil back in January by Independent TD Mattie McGrath. The bill entitled an Act to prohibit sulky racing where no lawful permission has been granted.
Gardaí are currently investigating all the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Councillor for Cork City North-Central Thomas Gould said people already had major concerns about the care of horses in the city, and this is not an isolated incident.
“Every day there is sulky racing taking place in Cork. Up in Ballyhooley Road, Kilmore Road, Mahon, and the Straight Road,” he said.
“Last year there was a major round up and something similar needs to be done.”
