Nightclub elephant sparks animal rights row
A new nightclub caused controversy tonight when it used an elephant and alligators as part of its opening night party.
Heaven nightclub in Dublin held the opening extravaganza for hundreds of clubbers, with DJs, dance troops, singers, bands and performers Gail and Hazel Kaneswarren.
The club, next to Blanchardstown shopping centre, north Dublin, said it wanted to do things “bigger and better” than they had ever been done before.
But animal rights groups have reacted angrily to the decision that the venue would have live animals as part of the first night celebrations.
Before the launch, spokeswoman for the nightclub Hazel Nestor said the elephant and the alligators would only be at the club to promote that theme that Heaven welcomed all creatures great and small.
“We don’t want them performing, and they won’t be harmed,” Ms Nestor said.
“We don’t condone cruelty to animals in any shape or form.”
The animals are being providing by Duffy’s Circus, one of Ireland’s oldest circus businesses.
But John Carmody, campaigns co-ordinator for the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) said that animals in circuses were “confined to a life of boredom, misery and suffering”.
Mr Carmody said that members of the national animal rights organisation were outraged at the nightclub’s decision.
“It’s sending out a very clear message that people can dominate animals, that they are here for our use and entertainment, which is obviously wrong,” he said.
