Derry’s council is to consider banning circuses which feature animal acts from council owned property.
The move comes after the issue was raised at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Communities meeting held at the Guildhall.
Speaking at the meeting, the independent councillor Gary Donnelly said that it was the ‘widespread public view’ that circuses which use performing animals were engaging in ‘outright cruelty’ by placing the animals in an ‘unnatural setting’ and causing them ‘stress’.
He added that the animals, including horses and ponies were also transported in ‘confined’ spaces.
Cllr Donnelly then proposed that council take an ‘ethical position’ by banning circuses which use animals from council owned land.
Sinn Fein’s Karina Carlin echoed his comments, adding there was a ‘massive body of work to be done in terms of animal welfare’, while the SDLP’s Martin Reilly also gave his backing to the proposal.
A report will now be brought before councillors outlining the legal implications if council decide to implement the ban.
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