An Irish university's biomedical research on more than 100,000 live animals in five years has been criticised by the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS). According to the Irish Mirror Trinity College Dublin (TCD) spent more than €300,000 procuring animals for research last year.
IAVS chairperson, Yvonne Smalley is quoted in the article saying: “The IAVS is extremely disappointed the number of animals procured by TCD for painful animal experiments almost quadrupled to 24,990 in 2016. This is disturbing evidence this institution has a gung-ho approach to its infliction of animal suffering.
“TCD is supposed to be Ireland’s leading academic centre but its behaviour towards animals is stuck in the dark ages.”
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A spokesperson for TCD responded saying the use of animals “is in keeping with the practice of all Irish universities and leading universities worldwide”.
TCD reportedly purchased 109,531 rats, mice, rabbits and pigs for biomedical research between 2012 and 2016. Researchers must show there are no alternative methods to conducting the research before using animals is approved by an ethical review board.
