A TOTAL of 201 illegally held horses were rounded up and impounded by Limerick City Council for the first nine months of this year.
A total of 54 horses were rounded up in Moyross; 30 on Childers Road; 43 in Longpavement, 2 in Caherdavin Lawn; 1 in Janesboro; Thomond Park, 1; St Mary’s Park 15; Cratloe Court 6; O’Malley Park, 1; St Enda’s, 2; Shannon Vale, Old Cratloe Road, 2; Watch House Cross, 2; Rhebogue Meadows, 1; Roxboro Halting Site, 6; Toppins Field, 6; Galvone, 3; Toll Plaza, Clonmacken 1; Garryowen 1; Anglers Walk, Rhebogue, 4; Ballysimon Halting Site, 8; Rosbrien, 3; Delmege Park, 1; Caledonian Park, 1; Hyde Road, 1; LPYMA Grounds, 2.
Fifty operations this year cost €280,000,
Estimating the cost to the council at approximately €1,400 per horse collected, councillor, Maurice Quinlivan said as horses are currently selling in Moyross at between €100 and €200, it would be more cost effective for the council to buy them.
“The horse problem in Limerick goes back decades, Cllr Kathleen Leddin, reminded the meeting.
“I well remember that Mick Lipper made the horse issue the subject of his maiden speech in the Dáil – however, what is the current position re owners – do any of them have licences to keep horses in the city”.
None have been approved by City Hall, Cllr John Gilligan told the meeting.,
‘Although there are some owners who take excellent care of their horses – one man I know microchipped his horses and had pastures for them in the county.
“He stabled them in the city during the winter months but as he didn’t have 1.5 acres of land per horse within the city boundary, as is the stipulation, he had his horses seized – staff of the company hired to carry out this work were accompanied by the Garda Siochana”.
Director of services, Caroline Curley, told the committee that animal welfare was the priority when it came to seizing horses
‘That, as well as public safety, are priorities”.
