Horse charity faces closure amid claims it is owed £70k by council

23 Apr 2014 News

A horse charity in Northern Ireland has said it may have to shut because of a massive bill it believes it is owed by Belfast City Council.

A horse charity in Northern Ireland has said it may have to shut because of a massive bill it believes it is owed by Belfast City Council.

Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary claims that it has invoiced the council for more than £70,000 following a rescue of 18 horses from a council-run park. The council asked the charity to intervene in the process last year, and the horses were moved to the sanctuary in a bid to get them rehomed. However, only three of the horses found new owners.

The charity has said that it has had to foot the bill for transportation costs for the horses as well as veterinary bills, food and lodging for over a year which has run up costs of more than £70,000.

Sanctuary founder Lyn Friel told the Belfast Telegraph that the charity faces closure unless the money is repaid. She said: "There is no doubt about it – we would have to close our doors and we would not be able to hold our heads up.

"We have never been a rich charity but we have never had debts like this hanging over our heads."

The charity said that, although there was no formal contract with the council, it was under the impression that it had a “gentleman’s agreement” with regards to the paying of the bill.

Belfast City Council reportedly made an interim payment of around £6,000, but the charity received a letter last week saying it was only going to receive a fraction of the rest.

A council spokeswoman told Civil Society News: “Belfast City Council has sent a letter to Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary requesting a meeting with them to resolve the outstanding issues.”

The charity could not be contacted for comment.