NEW: Gardaí investigating after footage emerges of boys whipping horses in large Tipperary town

Gardaí in Clonmel have launched a probe after footage emerged of two people violently whipping a horse in the Clonmel area.

A number of Tipperary animal rights groups are calling for action since the video started circulating on social media earlier this week.

The 19-second video appears to show two boys beating a small horse in what is thought to be the Cashel Road are of Clonmel.

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Gardaí said they are aware of the video in circulation, believed to have been taken on Sunday, May 11.

The Tipperary Star has reached out to Gardaí in Clonmel for further comment.

Councillor Liam Browne issued the following statement upon seeing the disturbing video:

There was a very disturbing video posted online taken in Clonmel, which a lot of people contacted me about.

I'm not going to repost the video because of its contents, but I spoke today with an Gardai, county council representatives and the ISPCA.

All three agencies are dealing with the contents and I'm happy to allow them continue their investigations and to come to hopefully satisfactory conclusions.

From my own point of view, this needs to be dealt with under a number of pieces of legislation ie the Animal Welfare Act 2013 and the Control of Horses Act 1996.

On a broader comment, I would absolutely condemn anyone who harms or abuses an animal in any way.

Anyone.

And any animal.

There is no excuse for it, and personally if an investigation concludes an animal has been harmed, it should be taken, and those involved should never be allowed own or have animals again.

This issue has arisen on a number of occasions both at district and plenary meetings of the council, and each time Cllrs have expressed the need for increased services to deal with animal welfare.

I, and I am sure my fellow Cllrs, will continue to ask for these services.

I also believe that national legislation should be changed to restrict the driving of sulkies by children.

Currently its illegal to drive an electric scooter or bike on the roads, by a person under 16 years of age, but we allow children no more than 4 or 5 to take charge of horses on busy roads.

This is a danger to the horses, road users and most importantly the children themselves.

"Culture" or "tradition" or "entitlement" should have no part in this conversation.

Its about safety.

National legislators need to grasp this nettle once and for all.

Its time they did so.

As for the current incident, please allow the proper authorities to complete their investigations.

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