New statistics have revealed that sixteen dogs died during or after greyhound races held at the Lifford Stadium last year.
Those deaths were amongst the 197 dogs that died in similar circumstances at greyhound racing tracks across the country in 2025.
The data was revealed following a Parliamentary Question from People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy to the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon.
Fifteen of the sixteen dogs who died at Lifford were euthanised by the track vet following races, with just one being labelled as a “racing fatality” – a dog which suffered a lacerated artery whilst racing on the 28th of June.
A total of 58% of dogs which were recorded as sustaining an injury and treated by a vet at Lifford Stadium were subsequently euthanised afterwards.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has labelled the statistics as “sickening”, and says that this marks the second-worst year on record for greyhound deaths in the country.
“The sickening figures show that 344 greyhounds suffered injuries at races between January and the end of December and more than half of them (191) were ‘euthanised’ by track vets,” they said commenting on the figures.
“The 197 deaths are the second highest since records began and just five less than 2024’s record high of 202 deaths.”
“How many more dogs have to suffer and die before the Irish Government stops the funding that is propping up greyhound racing? Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €386,806,146 in grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.”
In response to a query from Donegal Daily relating to greyhound deaths at Lifford Stadium in 2025, Rásaíocht Con Éireann/Greyhound Racing Ireland said the following:
“6,374 greyhounds raced in Lifford Stadium between 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025 with 99.58% of the starters being uninjured during their races. All injured dogs are attended to by a veterinary surgeon at the track. Depending on the injury, euthanasia by the track veterinarian is sometimes the most humane option.”
“Throughout 2025 Rásaíocht Con Éireann conducted mainly unannounced welfare inspections on greyhound premises, as part of the industry’s efforts to ensure high welfare standards. 96.28% of all inspections were found to be fully compliant; a further 2.8% were satisfactory with advisory recommendations and 0.9% required the intervention of an officer where a direction to carry our improvements was given.”
However, those are figures that Nuala Donlon, of the advocacy group Greyhound Action Ireland, strongly contests.
“That figure of 6,374 could include the same dog 20 times, as each dog in every race is counted. We calculate our figures as a percentage of the total number of dogs who have competed in a given year, rather than just the number of total starts.”
“According to our figures, there were around 3,600 dogs total that raced in a single year in Ireland (a few years ago), and a injury/fatality rate of around five percent, which is probably a conservative estimate.”
Nuala also claims that the welfare of dogs who are competing in these races is not improving.
“They (GRI) spend so much time trying to convince people that welfare is improving, and it isn’t, and it can’t, whenever you have dogs racing at those kinds of speeds on an oval track.”
“It wouldn’t be tolerated with any other breed of dog, but because people make money out of the greyhound industry, and the betting industry definitely do as well, it’s alright.”
“Welfare is not improving, it’s more of the same. The taxpayer is paying for state-sponsored carnage on greyhound tracks.”
Sixteen dogs killed at Lifford greyhound races in 2025 was last modified: February 11th, 2026 by Daniel Brennan
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