Green Party North Down candidate Cllr Anthony Flynn has welcomed the permanent closure of Drumbo Park greyhound track, following its final meeting on 29 August.

“I am very happy to see Drumbo Park close its doors permanently. The industry is struggling to attract spectators and, increasingly, even enough dogs to keep tracks operating.

“The welfare record of greyhound racing is deeply concerning. In the Republic of Ireland alone, 197 greyhounds died and 344 were recorded as injured at tracks in 2025. Even those figures do not capture every injury.

“Here in Northern Ireland, we don't even have equivalent published figures telling us how many greyhounds are being injured or dying on our tracks. That lack of transparency is simply not acceptable.

“The public is turning its back on this outdated industry. The DAERA Minister should now stop delaying and bring forward legislation to ban greyhound racing in Northern Ireland.

"You bet. They die."

ENDS

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Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn has called for urgent action on greyhound racing in Northern Ireland following moves to ban the practice in Scotland and Wales.

Councillor Flynn said:

“This week, both Scotland and Wales have voted to ban greyhound racing. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, we still have an unregulated industry operating without transparency or accountability.”

“There is no dedicated legislation governing greyhound racing here. There is no official data on injuries or deaths and no proper oversight from DAERA. We know from other jurisdictions that greyhounds are injured and killed on tracks every year. There is no reason to believe Northern Ireland is any different.”

“The DAERA Minister recently responded to my motion after Belfast City Council called for action on this unregulated industry. His response was that there isn’t time in this mandate and that it’s not a priority. That is simply not good enough.”

“An unregulated industry involving animals should be a major concern for the minister responsible for animal welfare. Delaying action until the next mandate risks more animals suffering.”

“The question is whether we follow the evidence and act, or continue to turn a blind eye while others take action.”

ENDS