Horses ‘running wild’ in Kinnegad
A claim that there are untethered horses “running wild” in parts of Kinnegad was made by Cllr Denis Leonard at the last meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.
Asking for an update on council policy, Cllr Leonard said the horses were an issue at Boreen Bradach and at the Bun Daire estate.
He said that the Boreen Bradach was “overrun” with horses before Christmas; and it was similar at Bun Daire.
“I was in there a few times before Christmas and there were horses everywhere, all over the place. And the amount of horse dung that was on the footpath…”
Cllr Dollard claimed that residents were running in to their houses to escape from horses that were galloping around the place.
“I just think it’s not good enough that the government has not given us the type of support we need – that we have the proper wardens in place,” said Cllr Leonard.
He went on to speak of the dangers that the presence of the animals bring: “A speeding horse can do as much damage as a speeding car. And when you have small children playing, when you have areas which are completely landscaped, at huge expense to this council and then being completely desecrated, I don’t think it’s good enough,” he said.
In its written response to Cllr Leonard, the district stated that Westmeath County Council have responsibilities under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 and the Control of Horses Bye-Laws 2012.
“In this regard the Department of Agriculture has set up a recent regional framework of companies for LAs to use if horses are to be removed by WCC. WCC’s Environment department is currently working through our Health and Safety requirements with the identified regional companies on the framework prior to their appointment.”
Director of services, Deirdre Reilly, agreed that the situation wasn’t acceptable, and told the meeting she would speak with senior officials in relation to the issue.
She said the council has staff trained up to deal with this situation, and that there is a framework available from the government in relation to where horses are brought if impounded.