Intelligence sharing increased after Aintree talks

Aintree racecourse was the scene of a meeting between local officials in 2011 at which it was decided to increase intelligence sharing and inter-agency co-operation to stop horses being transported in poor conditions between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

“The main concern was the poor condition of some horses, with reports of horses not being fit for transport,” Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill revealed.

“The action Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). took after this meeting was intensifying welfare checks (vehicle and documentary) at the ports and gathering information, sharing intelligence and assisting in investigations undertaken by the Police and other enforcement agencies.”

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister asked the Minister what action her Department had taken in regard to concerns about horse exports following the meeting in 2011.

Mrs O’Neill explained that was primarily about the welfare of some horses “transported from Ireland (north & south) to Britain.”

Officers from DARD, Defra, English local authorities and two animal welfare charities (the Scottish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals and World Horse Welfare) took part.