Video: Travellers face prosecution over sulky road race

TRAVELLERS who were filmed racing ponies through traffic on a busy main road in Ireland are likely to be prosecuted, police sources have said.

Internet footage of the controversial sulky race on lightweight traps has sparked outrage among road safety chiefs, animal welfare groups and community representatives.

Two men can be seen weaving through traffic at high speed on the Cork to Mallow road and narrowly avoiding oncoming cars in the six-minute clip.

Superintendent Con Cadogan of Gurranabraher Garda Station described the race as “a clear breach of road traffic legislation and posed a significant danger to those involved and to other road users”.

One man in his 20s has been arrested over public order offences and was released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Republic’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

Between 60 to 70 spectators and several cars and vans were at the scene when gardai were called shortly after 7am last Saturday May 5 by concerned motorists.

Gardai say they are confident they can identify more people from the footage and plan to bring charges for alleged road traffic and animal cruelty offences.

Sulkies are lightweight traps or carts raced by ponies and are popular in some race meetings in Ireland and North America where it is also known as harness racing.