Animal groups have erupted in fury over a planned turkey throw in Ireland.
Fermanagh hotel owner Joe Mahon plans to throw 50 live turkeys from the top of a 100-foot clock tower to see if they can fly.
He laughed off animal rights complaints saying he was not being cruel to the birds.
“It's not cruel because turkeys are supposed to be able to fly like all birds, so if they can then what's the problem?
"We're going to march the turkeys up the steps of the town clock and throw them off the top to see if they can fly and that’s that.
“I'll be throwing some of the turkeys off the tower myself, no bother, and Santa Claus will be at the bottom holding a safety blanket and will be ready to catch the turkeys if they don't fly.
"He won't miss them flying through the air because we've just started training him up. He'll be well up to the job on the day.”
Stephen Philpott of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says he he will do everything he can to stop the turkey throw.
“We would object strongly to this activity as well. It is not entertaining, it is merely exploiting animals or creatures in a horrendous way,” he said.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Watereskhill | Nov 10, 2009, 11:31 PM EST
Word has got round the turkey litter in County Fermanagh about the up-coming 'Event' and the overall consensus is "We either fly or roast with Christmas just around the corner" I hope they somehow escape this heinous Roman Empire onslaught in some measure. A similar pompous and vulgar businessman several years ago here in the U.S. tossed turkeys from a helicopter and laughed. Like yer man in Fermanagh he too reasoned that since they were birds they should fly. He was heavily fined for cruelty but nevertheless smirked. If this is nothing but 'a publicity stunt' in Fermanagh to garner business at home and abroad I nevertheless find it a yard-stick of his clientele. With guffaws at the bar. A feather in one's cap is one thing as they say. On what has been reported here: Turkey feathers stuck in his arse would portray the ignorant loud mouthed Peacock he is. Slainte.
yorkville | Nov 10, 2009, 12:58 PM EST
He is kiddin you know!
Madeleine | Nov 10, 2009, 05:20 AM EST
He may own a Hotel but he can't be too sucessful if he has to resort to this kind of idiocy to gain some publicity, and bad publicity at that. Who would stay in a Hotel where the owner tortures Turkeys?
lightnord | Nov 09, 2009, 10:54 PM EST
Want to see something even more funny? Let's throw My Mahon off his own clock tower, and see if HE CAN FLY? ROFLMFIAO! Rolling On Floor, Laughing My Irish Arse Off!
irishathens | Nov 09, 2009, 11:14 AM EST
What a clever man..during a recession he has just managed to get a whole load of world wide publicity for FREE.
kikelly | Nov 08, 2009, 07:46 PM EST
Am I missing something here? Outside of a sort of bratty, childish showing-off, is there any point to this? It is quite remarkable that this idiot is actually successful enough to own a hotel.
Teresa265 | Nov 07, 2009, 07:57 AM EST
Thie is an AWFUL idea, It's just cruelity to the turkeys who have been raised only for our pleasure anyway. Why throw them off a clock tower? Who cares if they can fly or not. Sick, sick, sick
philgarringer | Nov 07, 2009, 07:27 AM EST
What are the bookmakers giving for odds? I figure they will fly for about 10 seconds, reaching amazing speeds before lighting on the ground.
teecee3467 | Nov 07, 2009, 07:07 AM EST
Loved WKRP also, and thought of the same episode. What a great show.
WAMcKinley | Nov 06, 2009, 11:07 PM EST
In the 1970s in the U.S., there was a comedy series entitled "WKRP in Cincinnati." One of the programs featured a scheme hatched by couple of the people at the station as a Thanksgiving promotion. They decided to throw live turkeys out of a flying helicopter. They, too, assumed that the turkeys could fly. They couldn't----and it all ended in tragedy for the turkeys-------and a dark blemish on the reputations of the hapless WKRP promotions team. This entire story is like a re-write of that old TV sit-com. All we need is Les Nessman broadcasting from the scene, as the event he was reporting on turned to black comedy right before his eyes.-----Sheesh!!!
plasticpaddy | Nov 06, 2009, 12:18 PM EST
Yes it is an animal rights issue and is absolutely disgusting.
Rachelgaffney | Nov 06, 2009, 11:46 AM EST
BRILLIANT.........This has absolutely nothing to do with animal rights and everything to do with PR & MARKETING...Gotta love it!! I DO.......... LOL