BREAKING: Minister Charlie McConalogue Shuts Straffan Equine Abattoir, Pending Investigation

Sunday, 16 June 2024 10:53

The abattoir featured on RTE Investigates during the week

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has shut down operations at the country’s only equine slaughterhouse, based in Straffan, pending an investigation.

"Abhorrent” scenes of cruelty to horses were secretly filmed and broadcast on an RTÉ Investigates documentary on Wednesday evening.

Charlie McConalogue has revealed the abattoir has effectively been put out of commission pending an investigation by his officials and Gardaí into welfare abuses and illegal activity uncovered by the documentary.

In a statement to the Sunday Independent, the minister revealed:

No animals have entered the food chain from this slaughter plant in the past three weeks;
All carcasses that were presented for slaughter last week are detained;
The operation of the plant is now fully suspended.

Monday morning's 'Kildare Today' programme will be covering the topic in detail from 9am.

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