A disturbing incident on the N7 motorway near Naas involving an illegal sulky race has sparked urgent calls for stricter road safety enforcement and enhanced animal welfare protections. Footage revealed a convoy of cars facilitating sulky racing on a motorway, endangering motorists and subjecting horses to dangerous conditions. The Broadford-based charity My Lovely Horse condemned the event as reckless and called for the establishment of a dedicated Garda Animal Crime Unit, emphasizing the need to address both public safety and animal cruelty concerns.

The issue has also drawn political attention, with Senator Fiona O’Loughlin highlighting the cruelty and risks involved, especially noting the involvement of a 13-year-old in charge of a horse. She stressed the necessity for regulation and enforcement against sulky racing, urging the Minister for Agriculture to act and calling for a broader debate on animal welfare that includes this dangerous practice. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in enforcing laws that prohibit horses and horse-drawn vehicles on motorways, with advocates demanding stronger legal and protective measures.