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Monaghan Councillors unanimously condemn cockfighting and call for Garda crackdown
09 October 2013
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports thanks and applauds Monaghan County Council for passing an anti-bloodsports motion condemning illegal cockfighting in the county.
The motion, proposed by Sinn Fein Councillor Matt Carthy and seconded by Councillor Brian McKenna stated: "Monaghan County Council condemns the practice of cock-fighting and we call on the Gardai to initiate a major crackdown on this practice in our county." The motion was adopted unanimously.
It comes after cockfighting activities were filmed in broad daylight in County Monaghan earlier this year. Captured footage was featured on a BBC Newsline report which showed around 60 people gathered around a makeshift ring where "men set birds on each other, making them tear each other apart in a bloody barbaric battle".
Last month, ICABS contacted Monaghan County Council and urged them to join us in appealing to the Gardai to take action against those involved in the cruel and illegal bloodsport.
A big thank you to Cllr Carthy for proposing this important motion and to all the councillors who supported it.
Monaghan Cllrs have accepted by motion asking Gardaí to crack down on illegal cock-fighting in the county as requested by #ICABS
— Matt Carthy (@mattcarthy) October 7, 2013
ACTION ALERT
Cockfighting is illegal in Ireland. If you have any information about cockfighting activities, please immediately report it to the Gardai. For the phone numbers of Garda stations, please visit: www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx. If you are in Northern Ireland, contact the police at www.psni.police.uk
Northern Sound Radio Report
Monaghan Council condemns cockfighting
Northern Sound Radio, October 7th, 2013
Monaghan County Council has adopted a motion to condemn the practice of cockfighting. The issue was raised by Councillor Matt Carthy at a meeting of the Council this morning.
The Ulster Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) uncovered illegal cockfighting in Monaghan in June this year, which showed around 60 people gathered in broad daylight setting birds on each other. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has condemned cockfighting as ‘extremely cruel’.
Illegal cockfight cruelty uncovered in Monaghan
21 June 2013
The Ulster SPCA has released details of a two year investigation into illegal cockfighting, including shocking video footage of a cockfight in County Monaghan.
The Society says it was stunned when their surveillance revealed "large crowds gathering in open fields in broad daylight for hours on end watching the barbaric practice of cockfighting".
Captured footage was featured on a BBC Newsline report - see video above - and it shows around 60 people gathered around a makeshift ring where "men set birds on each other, making them tear each other apart in a bloody barbaric battle".
BBC Newsline reporter, Gordon Adair, explained to viewers that "these big events in the cockfighting world are known as derbies - cars, vans and hatchbacks transport the birds in cages where they are penned before being agitated to fight."
"The USPCA believes the big matches held at locations like this are just the tip of the iceberg and that smaller meets are held almost every weekend," he continued. "These feature fighting birds from across Ireland that are normally kept in back gardens, back yards and are trained specially to kill."
Cockfighting typically involves horrendous cruelty. Two highly territorial cocks are thrown into an enclosed pit and encouraged to rip each other apart until one succumbs and dies. This bloody combat is cheered on by spectators, many of whom will be gambling on the outcome.
During the season (Easter Sunday up until the end of July), two forms of cockfighting are carried out - "naked heel" and "spur fighting". In naked heel, the birds' natural spurs are sharpened to maximise the injury they can inflict. Spur fighting, meanwhile, sees three-inch long steel spurs being attached to the sides of their legs. These are designed to cause even greater injuries and result in more savage battles. Cock fights can last up to 25 minutes or as long as the birds can withstand the injuries.
| A crowd of spectators look on as a pair of birds fight in a field in County Monaghan. |
ACTION ALERT
Cockfighting is illegal in Ireland. If you have any information about cockfighting activities, please immediately report it to the Gardai. For the phone numbers of Garda stations, please visit: www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx. If you are in Northern Ireland, contact the police at www.psni.police.uk
Video: Cockfighting - An illegal blood sport in Ireland
Cockfighting - An illegal blood sport by banbloodsports
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