Ongoing shipment of cattle from Greenore in Louth to Israel condemned

The Newry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has condemned the ongoing shipment of cattle from Greenore port in north Louth to Israel.

In a statement, the group said that, "as well as the suffering of the cattle on the long boat journey (sometimes as long as ten days) and the significant environmental damage, the genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza by Israel means the shipment is breaking international law which obliges Ireland to stop trading with Israel. Nor, given the US and Israeli attack on Iran, is it ethical to ship animals into regions experiencing active conflict".

Many nations, such as the United Kingdom, have banned the export of live animals on animal welfare grounds. Reports from livestock shipments have shown that animals arrive at their destination sick, injured, severely stressed, or in some cases, dead after long voyages.

The Newry branch of the IPSC said that environmental impacts are another concern, with livestock vessels producing large volumes of manure and wastewater during voyages, and waste from ships can be discharged into the ocean, raising questions, it added, about marine pollution and damage to ecosystems.

Deirdre Murphy, Secretary of the Newry branch of the IPSC, said, ‘We are calling on people to make their concerns about this unethical practice known to the Doyle Shipping Company, operators of Greenore Port and will be holding protests at the port until this trading stops.

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"Despite the so-called ceasefire, Israel continues its genocide in Gaza, while illegally seizing Palestinian land in the West Bank. It is beyond belief that any Irish company would even consider trading with Israel.’