even fines and charges don’t stop the suffering…
http://www.humanheadline.com.au/hinch-says/-horses-for-courses
There was a time when I admired Kim Hollingsworth. She was the daughter of a Victorian copper. Yearned to follow in his footsteps and, in New South Wales, finally was accepted into the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn.
Hollingsworth had a past. She’d been a prostitute. The Royal Commission into police corruption thought they could use that experience and asked her to return to her old business to catch corrupt policemen. And bravely she did. Had spy cameras installed in her apartment and wore a wire. She could have been killed.
But while she was doing that, the Police hierarchy had her expelled for omitting her career as a hooker from her academy application. It was classic payback.
Hollingsworth fought to be reinstated. She won some and lost some but never got back in the force. I remember supporting her through that campaign but can’t in her current fight. And neither, I suspect, will many other people.
Ironically, while Australia worships champion horseflesh during Cup Week, Hollingsworth is mired in allegations of animal cruelty. The emaciated, bony creature pictured here is owned by her on her NSW property at Mulgoa.
In August, Hollingsworth pleaded guilty to 11 charges involving animal cruelty. Some issues are still moving through the appeals court and, with her Police background, Hollingsworth knows common law. Knows how to work it.
Among the charges she faced were failure to provide veterinary treatment and failure to provide sufficient food to the horses. The RSPCA said 26 horses in Ms Hollingsworth’s care were severely underweight. It said 31 horses were also found to be suffering from intestinal parasites. Many of the animals were found so starved their ribs showed.
Ms Hollingsworth told the court she had always treated her horses responsibly.
‘I never avoided feeding them and I never avoided caring for them. I always tried to help the horse’.
As part of a court order, I understand she was permitted no more than 20 horses on her property but there are reportedly about 50. Presumably nothing can be done about that until all legal avenues are exhausted.
And speaking of exhausted… in the meantime what about the bloody horses?
I find this bewildering. Not only that the RSPCA cannot, or will not, act but also because of Kim Hollingsworth’s history.
Nine years ago, Hollingsworth gave evidence against a horse property owner accused of failing to exercise reasonable care for a horse on agistment. In the past, she led protests against the captivity of animals in Australian circuses. (Reminds me of the days with Lynda Stoner picketing the circus in Melbourne).
So what happened to a woman, with a history of compassion for horses?
I was alerted to the current ghastly situation by concerned, even distraught, horse lovers on Facebook.
Here are a few of their comments:
Hi Derryn Hinch These horses are in desperate need of help and we are out of ideas! How to help them legally? There are so many and they are breeding and the problem is becoming worse every day
She has been convicted but it is still going on! She is using the courts to delay the sentencing ruling. What will happen to these poor horses when winter comes? They will drop and die!
I think it’s time to make a stand, time to make a stand against Kim and her lies, we need the media to help these animals. I can’t believe how much Kim lies, it’s just crazy shit!
This poor mare has no energy or body fat to keep hair on her body. It’s a huge sign of stress.
Cheryl Windsor Tagged Derryn Hinch might Help?!
This woman knows the Common Law from every conceivable angle and these animals suffer because of her. If I wasn’t a peaceful person I would wish her to the depths of HELL!!!!! This little foal is suffering in silence while she crows about her innocence? Hopefully she will be stopped……
Please Lord use your power to free these horses from this horrific situation and throw all your wrath on this woman…..
I don’t know if the Lord can do much but the RSPCA must act and charge her again if necessary to get those horses off that property. And pronto.
-30-
http://www.humanheadline.com.au/hinch-says/friday-thoughts24
Extract-
Kim Hollingsworth
Yesterday, in my editorial headed Horses for Courses I picked up on a shocking Facebook debate about cruelty allegations against former prostitute and NSW Police trainee Kim Hollingsworth. We ran a photo of a gaunt horse from her NSW property. Its skin stretched tight over bony haunches. One witness emailed me updates about dead horses on Hollingsworth’s property.
I talked at length to the RSPCA’s Chief Inspector, David O’Shannessy. He outlined ll charges to which Hollingsworth pleaded guilty earlier this year. By court order she was not permitted more than 20 horses on her properties for two years.
She currently has more because an appeal (including an attempt to change her plea) will be heard on Nov.20. On the same day she faces more charges of alleged cruelty to her horses.
I received a couple of emails overnight from Kim Hollingsworth demanding I remove yesterday’s editorial from my website plus expunge all references to her on Twitter and on my Facebook pages.
I won’t. Although I do not condone abusive FB messages and certainly find it ironic when people, in the defence of animals, advocate cruelty to another human being. Not nice, guys.
Hollingsworth’s email said in part:
‘Your story Horses for Courses constitutes harassment and I ask that you immediately remove it from Facebook, Twitter, your website and any other references you have published to my name. You have additionally made no attempt whatsoever to contact me regarding my right of reply to these allegations. I suggest you read the 5 cm odd thick list of NSW Police events and incidents (against various people- Ed.) for sending death threats to me and stealing from me, amongst other offences too numerous to list here. NSW Police have worked hard on this investigation and you are thwarting their efforts and chance of conviction and intent to lay further charges. You should have asked your sources which one of them stole the feed from my horses’ mouths – this was accepted in the court case and will be pushed now I have the evidence for the Appeal. They have wrecked my life and seeing someone I loved to watch since I was a kid is doing my head in. Thank you’.
Well Kim, seeing somebody treating horses so badly, somebody I defended when you were so badly treated by the Police after your bravery for the Royal Commission, that does my head in.
Especially, as I wrote yesterday:
Nine years ago, Hollingsworth gave evidence against a horse property owner accused of failing to exercise reasonable care for a horse on agistment. In the past, she led protests against the captivity of animals in Australian circuses. (Reminds me of the days with Lynda Stoner picketing the circus in Melbourne).
The RSPCA has sent me the following statement:
‘RSPCA NSW’s Investigations and enquiries into all the animals under Ms Hollingsworth’s care is ongoing. On 29 July 2013, Ms Hollingsworth was convicted of 11 charges of animal cruelty relating to 11 horses that were seized from her properties in 2012. This conviction is now subject to an appeal by Ms Hollingsworth and as such the orders, including the order limiting her to 20 horses, have been stayed.
As a result of ongoing monitoring, and on the recommendation of independent veterinary advice, a further six horses were seized in December 2012. Charges alleging failure to provide proper and sufficient food and veterinary treatment relating to these six horses and others were issued and this matter is listed for hearing in late November.
Over the last two weeks, a further four horses have also been seized and taken for veterinary treatment. Written directions have been issued to Ms Hollingsworth in relation to the provision of food and veterinary treatment in relation to the remaining horses on her property.
RSPCA NSW continues to monitor the situation closely and will take further action if necessary.
Let’s await further developments. But get those horses help. Now.