Smithfield Horse Fair Mar 2011 (not only shotguns & slash-hooks)

An afternoon's filming at the Smithfield horse fair on 6th March 2011. The shooting incident happened just before we arrived. The news item from RTE is intercut. We were struck by the way the media ignored the hard-working horse dealers and customers going about their business in a relaxed and non-threatening manner.

Objections to the continuation of the horse fair (a tradition going back over a hundred years) are on grounds of animal welfare and disruption to the residential area. The main objections come from the new hotels, expensive apartments, and businesses in the Smithfield redevelopment - which have only been in the area for the past seven years.

A few days later, Pavee Point, the body representing traveller culture in Ireland, submitted the following statement:

"Pavee Point wishes to express its shock at and condemnation of the events of violence which occurred at Smithfield Horse Fare in Dublin yesterday, Sunday March 6 2011. As these would appear to be serious criminal acts currently under the investigation of An Garda Síochána, we are unable to comment further on the events in particular but would urge anyone with information to make this available to the Gardaí.

Pavee Point is deeply concerned to ensure that the welfare of animals and people at horse fares is of the highest possible standard. The fair needs to be regulated in the interests of animal welfare. Enforcement of high standards is in everybody's interests, and would be welcomed by the Traveller community. Pavee Point, in association with the other Traveller organisations, has issued guidance on the Control of Horses Act and facilitated training for Travellers on care of horses. In addition, there are a number of horse projects in the Dublin area doing valuable work on care of horses. Clearly, this work needs to be resourced, in the interests of the welfare of the animals concerned.

Finally, it would be a disaster if one, admittedly serious, incident, should end a longstanding tradition for the Smithfield area. The Smithfield Horse Fair is a fixture in the city's life, and it would be a mistake to pass up the opportunity to effectively regulate and improve the fair in the interests of the animals, traders and the city.

Pavee Point believes that, as a matter of urgency, all the stakeholders and interested parties in the Smithfield Horse Fares should meet to consult on the future of the fare; this should include the City Council, local residents and traders, Traveller representatives, Gardaí, horse traders, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and representatives of the Department of Agriculture."