The Minister for Agriculture has been asked if any greyhounds suffered injuries when traps malfunctioned at the start of a race at Curraheen Park track at the weekend.
Disturbing Greyhound Racing Ireland video footage from Saturday (18 March 2023) shows the race lure speeding past the traps before the doors fail to open.
The traps, with six greyhounds stuck inside, were then seen lifting up, moving backwards and tilting to the rear as people rushed in. (Video: Greyhound Racing Ireland / CC BY 4.0 licence)
There are concerns that the greyhounds – trained to burst out of the traps when they see the lure – may have been injured. At least one of the greyhounds can be seen hitting the barrier when it unexpectedly remained shut. This dog did not run when the race was restarted – he was listed as “turned in traps”.
Minister Charlie McConalogue, who oversees greyhound racing, has been asked if the greyhounds were checked for injuries before the race was restarted and if any of the dogs suffered face or head injuries.
There is no mention of this dangerous incident in a race report on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website. It refers only to the winning greyhound who was “a most impressive winner, clocking 29.88 and beating Ballyhimikin Rex, by two lengths.”
Greyhound Racing Ireland is hiding footage of the race – it is the only race from Saturday’s Curraheen Park meeting that is not available to view on its website.
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks. Please join us in urging the government to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.
Since 2001, over €309 million in funding has been handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €19.2 million for 2021, €17.6 million for 2022 and €18.2 million for 2023. It’s time for politicians to stop the funding and allow unpopular greyhound racing to die a death.
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradka
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
Please sign and share the petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Ban Bloodsports 
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