An Garda Síochána has confirmed the seizure of 10 horses in the Littleton area outside Thurles, Co. Tipperary, today (Tuesday, April 15) "for reasons of public safety".

The news was posted on An Garda Síochána Tipperary's official social media channels earlier today.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed to Agriland that the operation was carried out by gardaí, following consultation with Tipperary County Council, Bord na Móna, and Tipperary County Council Veterinary Services.

According to local county councillor, Jim Ryan, the seizure was made on the site of the now derelict Bord na Móna briquette factory, which closed in 2017.

Ryan told Agriland that since the factory's closure, the idle bogland had been illegally used by individuals to keep horses, which had been an "ongoing problem" for years in the locality.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána in Co. Tipperary said that its officers had been liaising with the aforementioned agencies in the lead up to today's seizure, which the spokesperson said was their biggest seizure of horses to date in the area.

Gardaí have also confirmed that the horses have been removed to a safe location, where they will receive the appropriate care.

In addition to animal welfare concerns for the horses involved, Ryan asserted that their presence on the derelict site posed a risk to public health and safety, due to the proximity of a nearby road and public walking amenity.

He explained that horses had been escaping from the site onto the road on a regular basis, which had in turn been deterring members of the public from availing of the newly opened bogwalk, due to the dangers posed.

Ryan said: "Obviously there are animal welfare issues and then there's issues of road safety as a result of the horses getting onto the road as well, which has happened regularly over the last number of years."

Ryan has called on the landowners, Bord na Móna, to take accountability for the alleged illegal placement of animals on its land, and to implement measures to deter further horses from entering the site.

Responding to these claims, a spokesperson for Bord na Móna said: "Bord na Móna doesn’t have any licensing agreements for horses to graze on its land in Littleton, and any illegal horse trespassing on this land is strictly prohibited.  

"Bord na Móna implemented a mitigation plan addressing illegal animal trespassing on its landbank following engagement with An Garda Síochána, Tipperary County Council and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine last year.

As part of this plan, in the event that open grazing takes place on its landbank without a required licensing agreement, Bord na Móna engages directly with An Garda Síochána and a nominated pound service provider to have the animals removed as safely and efficiently as possible."