SOME 19 horses and ponies owned by young people in west Dublin were put down by South Dublin County Council five days after being seized from private land.
The young people say the animals were unjustly seized and say they had been seeking their return. They say their horses were well cared for and their equestrian passions gave them something constructive to do.
A spokeswoman for the council confirmed the 19 horses were rounded up at lands in the Clonburris area of Clondalkin on March 12th.
"We have received many calls from members of the public and public representatives regarding the number of horses abandoned on lands in Balgaddy/Clonburris.
"These lands are privately owned . . . are not suitable for the keeping of animals as there is insufficient grass, water and shelter. The council has also had calls from the DSPCA regarding the condition of the horses kept on these lands," she said.
The horses were removed to the council pound in the Curragh where they were kept for five days in accordance with the Control of Horses Act 1996. Only one person had been in contact about reclaiming the animals and this person had not been in touch since, the spokeswoman said.
Several of the owners, however, told The Irish Timesthey had contacted the council and the gardaí and were told they knew nothing about the horses' whereabouts.
One of them, David Payne (16), had bought his horse, Hairy, for €300 about a month before it was taken. He says he looked after him well. "He was underweight and had bad teeth when I got him. My dad got the dentist out for him and he pulled two teeth. We were getting weight on him and he was looking much better."
Cherie Aspil who had a horse in the field, named Splash, bought for €250, said horses kept the young people out of trouble.
"They love the horses. They look after them."
