THE development of a new equine abattoir is advancing in Co Roscommon. Ballaghaderreen Bacon Factory Ltd has been granted €200,000 by the 2023-2027 LEADER programme to develop a dedicated equine slaughter house at its existing facility in Magherboy, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.

The current phase of the development, called Project Equine – Derreen Meats, is focusing on the installation of specialised equipment needed to be fully compliant to process horses.

In a press release from Cap Network Ireland, Peter Cunniffe of Ballaghaderreen Bacon Factory Limited said: “This investment represents an important milestone for our business. It allows us to diversify our operations, develop a specialist service and create a strong foundation for future growth here in Ballaghaderreen.”

Operations manager with Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Tomás Beades, said that “the development of a dedicated equine processing line represents a significant investment in the future of the business and enterprise development in the region.

“The specialist equipment will allow us to establish a safe, efficient and fully compliant processing operation, with animal welfare and traceability at the centre of the development. Projects such as this demonstrate the potential for rural businesses to diversify, innovate and develop new opportunities.”

Ireland has been without an equine abattoir since June 2024 when Shannonside Foods in Straffan, Co Kildare was closed following an RTÉ Investigates programme which unveiled shocking cases of animal cruelty and illegal tampering of the identity of horses. The operator, John Joe Fitzpatrick, was convicted and fined on charges related to the fraudulent identification of horses destined for human consumption in April 2025.

The Department of Agriculture had not responded to questions from The Irish Field on the topic at the time of going to press.