Second highest number of greyhound deaths in Mullingar

By Rebekah O'Reilly

A total of 24 greyhounds died in Mullingar stadium last year, new figures show.

It was the track with the second highest number of deaths (euthanised plus racing fatalities) behind Youghal.

Mullingar was also the track with the most injuries in the country, with a total of 59 greyhounds suffering injuries

Data obtained by Deputy Paul Murphy in response to a Dáil question to the Minister for Agriculture, shows that the 24 greyhounds were euthanised by vets at Mullingar after suffering injuries including: fractured hock, broken hock, broken wrist, fractured wrist, spinal injury, fractured humurus, tendon injury, fractured radius and ulna, compound fracture front leg, dislocated left hock, torn gracilis, and broken neck.

One dog was recorded as having “collapsed and died” on the track.

Speaking last week the People Before Profit TD said: "The natural life expectancy of a greyhound is 10 to 15 years, but one quarter of Irish racing greyhounds are dead before the age of three or four.”

A statement by Greyhound Racing Ireland read: “Between 1st January 2024 and the 31st December 2024 389 greyhounds were recorded as having been injured on GRI licensed tracks during races.

“That represents 0.40% of the total number of greyhounds that raced on GRI licensed tracks during that period (97,621 runners).

“Eight greyhounds died on the track or shortly after a race. 194 were euthanised by track vets, totalling 202 track related deaths. This represents 0.21% of the total number of greyhounds that raced on licensed tracks during that period..”