Authorities on alert for Border area cockfights

The Garda, PSNI and the SPCA were on alert over the Bank Holiday weekend for cockfighting at out-of-the-way venues near the Border.

The illicit bloodsport has been conducted in previous years in both the Republic and the North, mainly in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh.

It emerged recently that three major cockfights, in which several thousands in euro and sterling changed hands, were already held near the Border this year.

The disclosure followed a claim that one event, attended by more than 60 people from the Republic and the North, was held nearly two months ago.

The claim was made by Stephen Philpott, chief executive of the Ulster Society of Protection of Cruelty to Animals.

He alleged an illegal cockfighting event took place near the Border in Co Monaghan just days in advance of the recent G8 summit, for which there was unprecedented cross-Border security. He confirmed video footage was recently obtained by the USPCA of cockfights along the Monaghan/Armagh Border.

Steel spurs
The footage included cars and vans transporting birds to the cockfights, and showed spectators placing bets on the different birds, all fitted with steel spurs to tear themselves to death.

It also emerged that two previous cockfights were staged near Castleshane in Co Monaghan, close to the Middletown border with Co Armagh, and at Drumully, near Clones.

According to sources close to organisers of the illegal bloodsport, these “mains” were staged on Easter Monday, and again on Whit Monday, attracting upwards of 200 participants from both sides of the Border.