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14/06/2013
Charity 'Stunned' Over Organised Cock Fighting
Animal welfare charity, the USPCA, has said it is "stunned" by the large number of people taking part in organised cock fighting.
The charity has released details following a two year investigation into cockfighting, including surveillance showing the large crowds gathering for the fights.
People are seen gathering in open fields during the day and stay for a number of hours to watch.
The USPCA added that footage filmed in Co Monaghan, near the Armagh border, last weekend appeared to show around 60 people, some of them children, watching a cockfight in a makeshift ring.
The illegal fights take place regularly at venues on both sides of the Irish border and cars, vans and hatchbacks often transport the birds in cages where they are penned before being agitated to fight. The birds spurs are removed and replaced with razor sharp implements in order to inflict as much damage – and even death – among the other birds.
Stephen Philpott from the USPCA described the discovery as disturbing.
He added: "We were absolutely shocked and stunned to find out the number of people involved and the amount of organisation.
"And it was the number of spectators of the events which stunned us. People from all walks of life coming out to watch chickens tearing each other to bits."
It is understood the charity has "hundreds of hours" of footage, but are unsure over who to give it to, whether the police, councils or the Department of Rural Development.
(JP/CD)
The charity has released details following a two year investigation into cockfighting, including surveillance showing the large crowds gathering for the fights.
People are seen gathering in open fields during the day and stay for a number of hours to watch.
The USPCA added that footage filmed in Co Monaghan, near the Armagh border, last weekend appeared to show around 60 people, some of them children, watching a cockfight in a makeshift ring.
The illegal fights take place regularly at venues on both sides of the Irish border and cars, vans and hatchbacks often transport the birds in cages where they are penned before being agitated to fight. The birds spurs are removed and replaced with razor sharp implements in order to inflict as much damage – and even death – among the other birds.
Stephen Philpott from the USPCA described the discovery as disturbing.
He added: "We were absolutely shocked and stunned to find out the number of people involved and the amount of organisation.
"And it was the number of spectators of the events which stunned us. People from all walks of life coming out to watch chickens tearing each other to bits."
It is understood the charity has "hundreds of hours" of footage, but are unsure over who to give it to, whether the police, councils or the Department of Rural Development.
(JP/CD)
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