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Enterprise Minister Bruton seeks legal advice on closure of Smithfield Horse Fair

Smithfield plaza where violence broke out earlier this month
Smithfield plaza where violence broke out earlier this month
Image: Press Association

THE MINISTER FOR Enterprise, Richard Bruton, is seeking legal advice on the possible closure of the Smithfield Horse Market in Dublin.

The move follows the violence which marred the fair earlier this month when two men were shot and another was injured with a slash hook.

Richard Bruton has made a detailed submission to the Attorney General seeking advice on the closure.

In a statement, he added that in the meantime there were laws governing casual trading and animal welfare which can be used to regulate trading at Smithfield, RTÉ reports.

Bruton added that the area of law was extremely complex amid calls from the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to shut the fair down immediately.

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Comments (7 Comments)

  • pippakin 31/03/11 #
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    It should not take long to get legal advice about this and if the advice is not in favour of closing the fair it should not take long to change the law.

    Smithfield must be closed to horse trading fairs it is not a suitable location. I’m not even sure that some of the owners are fit to own animals.

    Reply
    • Nigel Kenny 31/03/11 #
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      Considering the people participating in it, they’ll probably keep doing it whether it’s banned or not.

    • pippakin 31/03/11 #
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      Nigel Kenny

      If that is the case it should be easy enough for the Gards to deal with. Its not like Smithfield is going anywhere. It must be made clear that there are standards all of us have to adhere to: brutality to animals is illegal, so is treating Smithfiled like the OK coral.

    • Nigel Kenny 31/03/11 #
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      No disagreement from me. Whether they enforce it or not is another thing.

  • Foggy Lad 31/03/11 #
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    One way to sort it out is to licence horses and owners must apply for permission the same as with firearms.

    Reply
  • Killian Woods 31/03/11 #
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    It is a disgrace that it has taken this long for such a move to be even considered. The whole set up is a sham that makes Smithfield look like a market in a third world country one Sunday every month. What is even more sickening is that certain Irish tourist websites advertise the market as a tourist attraction.

    No doubt a discussion on the Adrian Kennedy phone show tonight will somehow manufacture a pro and anti side to this argument. I will not be bothered tuning in because doing so only makes me question the right of free speech that we have in this country.

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  • Gis Bayertz 31/03/11 #
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    Good on him!

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