Updated 22:17
THE DEPARTMENT OF Agriculture, the gardaí and Cork City Council this morning seized over 50 horses from the Hollyhill area of Cork City.
The joint operation also discovered the carcasses of three horses.
The Department says that there have been ongoing welfare concerns in relation to the horse sector over the past 12 months arising from the over-production of horses and the presence of unidentified horses on both public and private lands.
More than 3,000 horses have been seized throughout the country so far this year. Some 247 horses have been impounded in the Cork area.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said that there had been problems with horses across the northside of Cork City in Gurranabraher, Hollyhill, Knocknaheeny and Nash’s Boreeen. Dead horses have been found at the sites, causing health concerns.
The Department says that there are horses grazing on NAMA and local authority lands in the area.
The Minister said that his department and Cork City Council have been working to prevent the emergence of a welfare problem over coming months and had decided to take this action, which is aimed at removing the horses, evaluating their welfare and checking on their identification.
The horses impounded will not be released unless the owner can provide proof that they have a passport, have paid the appropriate fees and have access to lands registered under the equine regulations.
Originally published 14:29
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