RCÉ/GRI RESPONSE TO IRISH EXAMINER ARTICLE
GRI
The Irish Examiner has today published a front page article with the headline "Tipperary woman banned from dog ownership raced greyhounds after court ruling". The article can be read here.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann was contacted in advance for a statement, which was issued on Friday 5th January 2024. RCÉ is disappointed to note that key information provided was not reflected in the report.
The full statement issued is below:
"Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) has no statutory role regarding greyhound ownership in Ireland. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the keeper of the Greyhound Stud Book, and all greyhounds and owners must be registered with the ICC.
RCÉ first received notification of a court order in respect of Ms. Connolly on December 11th, 2023. On foot of a subsequent request for information from RCÉ, the details of the Court Order were received from the ISPCA on December 14th, 2023. The Court Order outlined details of summons for offences under sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health & Welfare Act relating to three dogs, namely two Maltese and a Poodle. The Court Order also directed that Ms. Connolly was banned from “owning, keeping or breeding any dog” for 10 years but, as an ancillary measure, she was permitted to keep the two Great Danes until their deaths.
On receipt of the details of the Court Order, the matter was promptly investigated by RCÉ. It was established by RCÉ’s team of Welfare Officers that there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms. Connolly at Puckaun, County Tipperary, and all greyhounds registered to her were with licensed trainers. All relevant greyhounds were inspected, and no welfare concerns were identified.
As the statutory authority for the regulation of racing greyhounds in Ireland and for the implementation of appropriate welfare standards, RCÉ strictly enforces any breaches of regulations or standards under the relevant statutory provisions. In light of RCÉ's investigations in December 2023, it is satisfied that no welfare standards of greyhounds are being breached in respect of this case and no greyhounds, registered or otherwise, are in Ms. Connolly’s care.
A comprehensive report was submitted by RCÉ to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the State Solicitor on December 18th, 2023 in which RCÉ outlined its concern about a possible breach of the Court Order of May 2022 regarding Ms. Connolly’s future ownership of dogs."