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Mamba Mia! Police halt elephants' illegal parade
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
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Two circus elephants may have to ‘pack their trunks’ after being reported to the Parades Commission.
Mamba and Mia, from the Sydney Circus, found themselves in trouble with the law after the PSNI branded their stroll through Bangor town centre an illegal parade.
Last Friday, the Indian elephants were led through the Co Down seaside resort as part of their daily exercise when police intervened and ordered them back into their trailer.
Circus director Alexander Scholl said he had never heard of the Parades Commission and was unaware of the formalities that had to be completed before a walk through a town.
Indeed the elephant owner described how he had previously walked his animals along the Shankill Road, through Lanark Way and into Belfast city centre — ironically one of Belfast’s most contentious routes.
“I had never heard of the Parades Commission. Two weeks ago I was in Belfast and walked with the elephants from the Shankill along Lanark Way right into Belfast and nobody said a word to me — not even the police. They said ‘hello’ and laughed. Only in Bangor did they say it was a problem.
“The police, with blue flashing lights, pulled us over and told us to put the elephants back in the cage.
“We were only giving the elephants a little bit of exercise. We did not know we had to ask for permission.
“The policeman was very nice, he just explained that we had to ask for permission to walk through Bangor.”
The German circus director insisted that Mia and Mamba, who were born in the circus, were not a danger to the public.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police attended and spoke with the individuals concerned. The parade was halted and a report is being compiled for the Parades Commission.”
Meanwhile a Parades Commission spokesman said any prosecutions would be a matter for the PSNI.
“The PSNI did report the parade to us. It was an illegal parade because they had not notified us; however any matters to do with prosecution are the concern of the PSNI.”
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Comments
38 Comments
Re-route the mahout, eh?
Posted by John | 27.10.08, 12:00 GMT
We took our dogs for a walk yesterday not realising that we were breaking the law. What shall we do now? Apply to PSNI every morning and evening?
Even worse, its a "traditional route" for us. What if the Labrador in the park objects?
Posted by Pat Jones | 25.10.08, 18:52 GMT
Absolutely stupid, PSNI jobsworths and Parades Commission stop elephants going for a walk and bringing some fun into the community but allow Sinn Fein to march in protest at the Army homecoming parade in Belfast .
Posted by T J McClean | 24.10.08, 10:27 GMT
Does any one know what part of india the elephants are from was it delhi or LondonDehli.
And Did the p.s.n.i. stop the parade by blocking the route with thier Panda car Sorry couldnt resist.
By the way this Circus is possably the best to visit N.Ireland for years. Well done Alexander and the Scholl Family continued success with the show. Perhaps if you need a few extra clowns the p.s.n.i. or the parades commission can help out.
Posted by Gareth | 24.10.08, 04:16 GMT
parade -a ceremonial procession including people marching! , what do the PSNI think they are doing?. We'll end up having no circuses , just one thing less to do in N.I.
Posted by Rachel | 23.10.08, 17:12 GMT
all i can say lol
Posted by ernie | 22.10.08, 23:22 GMT
Where is the line drawn between a Great Dane and an Elephant.. when does walking your animal become an illegal parade?
(LOL to the guy who asked if they were protestant or catholic elephants btw)
Posted by Mik | 22.10.08, 22:48 GMT
Sad the PSNI feel they must copy their English counterparts in stupidity!
They will be arresting the victims of crime next.
Posted by TheTurfBurner | 22.10.08, 21:59 GMT
ain't it funny how the police actively escort 'legal' parades thru bangor at 10 10.30 at night accompanied by an entourage of not only alcohol swillers but very obviously underage alcohol swillers and dont invoke the 'no consumption of alcohol in public' laws, and allow the testoterone driven teenage drivers of a weekend to parade their cars around the town without taking action, but can take the time to stop a beautiful enriching event like bringing these wonderful mammals into our midst.
Posted by gill | 22.10.08, 20:53 GMT
The cops have made idiots of themselves, the PSNI and the country.
Posted by New Yorker, New York | 22.10.08, 17:10 GMT
I'm from the south and I have to say I find all this hilarious. Have your police nothing better to do?
Posted by Laura, Dublin | 22.10.08, 17:09 GMT
if it was the Garvaghy rd, they would have been re-routed....
Posted by paul | 22.10.08, 16:53 GMT
Well, they did send in the clowns! :-)
Posted by Patricia | 22.10.08, 16:04 GMT
The only reason this was reported by the PSNI was because it presented a rare opportunity to bring forward fairly sizeable evidence - unlike the majority of cases they bring before the courts.
Posted by Realist | 22.10.08, 14:24 GMT
Check out the parades commission website and those highly paid executives get to arbitrate on such things as vintage car raliies ,cycling club events ,sponsored walks
The workplace is not an easy place to be nowadays !
Posted by Shoes wornout | 22.10.08, 14:18 GMT
I suggest our policemen should be made to perform in circuses instead of the elephants (elephants being infinitely too intelligent for such a demeaning act).
Posted by Ben | 22.10.08, 14:11 GMT
Ring of Cruelty - everything they don't want you to know about circuses in Ireland.
www.irishcircuses.org
Posted by Martin Lacey | 22.10.08, 14:07 GMT
Were they Protestant elephants or Catholic elephants? Alright I'll get me coat.
Posted by Den | 22.10.08, 14:04 GMT
Amazed. What can you say about the sheer stupidity of thise. Obviously they do not train commonsense or discretion in Garnerville. Its no wonder people laugh at our so called Police Service. This was not a case for a fixed penalty ticket or they would have issued one of those as well. It really beggars belief. I suppose the elephants were easier to spot than a Drug Dealer or Mugger. I hope your Sergeant and Inspector are proud of this great bit of Police Work.
Posted by Alan | 22.10.08, 14:01 GMT
If the elephants were throwing stones or causing a disturbance there wouldn't have been a police officer in sight.
Posted by John | 22.10.08, 13:58 GMT
38 Comments