Motion to ban Greyhound Racing dismissed by Belfast City Council

Belfast City Council reject motion to ban greyhound racing in Northern Ireland

A Green Party Motion to Ban Greyhound Racing in Northern Ireland has been dismissed by Belfast City Council in favour of supporting stronger regulation for the sport.

Greyhound Racing Constituents Northern Ireland (GRCNI) attended Belfast City Council’s Full Council Meeting on Monday 3rd November 2025 and made a presentation to the Councillors emphasising the strong tradition of greyhound racing in Northern Ireland, and the economic and cultural importance of the sport, particularly in the communities around the two tracks at Drumbo Park and Brandywell Stadium. Likewise, GRCNI emphasised how the sport allows greyhounds to engage in their natural instinct to chase at speed in the safest possible environment and under close supervision from greyhound welfare experts.

While the Motion referred to greyhound racing in Northern Ireland as being ‘unregulated’, the sport in fact operates under the Greyhound Race Track (Northern Ireland) Racing Regulations 1962/2007, with oversight from the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. The ICC also manages the Irish Greyhound Stud Book for the registration and identification of all greyhounds, and for ownership registration and welfare compliance, all of which is mandatory for racing eligibility.

Following debate, an amendment to the Motion was submitted by the Alliance Party, calling for the NI Executive and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to improve the regulation of greyhound racing. The amendment removed any calls for a ban and received sweeping cross-party support with 46 v 4 in its favour, clearly showing the value which the sport brings in NI and indicating their dismissal of misguided animal rights views.

Lynda Bonner, who represented GRCNI at the Council’s meeting, said:

“Greyhound Racing Constituents NI has welcomed Belfast City Council’s strong cross-party opposition to a ban on greyhound racing, and its support for strengthening existing welfare regulations. This was a very strong message from BCC that it firmly supports the continuous advancements that can be made in terms of regulating animal welfare, instead of supporting the minority animal rights agenda that would decimate the animal/human bond.

“A ban on greyhound racing would set a precedent that could endanger other legitimate animal-related activities integral to our culture and economy such as animal farming, horse racing, working animals, or companion animals. It is essential to distinguish between animal welfare (which promotes better standards of care) and animal rights ideology (which seeks to end all human-animal relationships, including sport and companionship). 

"Greyhound racing belongs firmly in the welfare category, and we, as advocates of the thoroughbred greyhound are advocates for continuously improving welfare and care. We commend Belfast City Council for supporting this breed and their community of constituents that are conservationists of it.”