An incident in Clonmel involving a horse pulling a sulky carriage running uncontrolled through traffic has sparked significant public outrage. The horse, driven by a youth believed to be around 13 years old with no training or protection, collided with a car and later died from its injuries. While the car occupants were unharmed, the event has raised serious concerns about animal welfare and safety on public roads. Gardaí are investigating the incident and emphasize their collaboration with animal welfare organizations, including the ISPCA and veterinary services, although they are not the lead agency for animal welfare.

The animal charity My Lovely Horse Rescue condemned the incident as cruelty, highlighting the dangers of untrained youths managing horses in traffic and calling for greater accountability and enforcement. They are advocating for the establishment of a dedicated An Garda Síochána Animal Crime Unit to better address animal cruelty cases. The charity urges the public to pressure elected officials to implement stronger protections for animals and prevent further tragedies.