An Animal Rising campaigner due to stand trial for public nuisance has had the case against her dropped, despite being arrested whilst glued to a police van at the Grand National in 2023.
118 campaigners against horse racing were arrested at Aintree in 2023, some attempting to gain access to the tracks to prevent the famous Grand National race. [1]
The campaigner in question was found glued to a police van after objecting to the treatment of fellow protestors by the police, and was arrested for criminal damage and public nuisance. She was eventually charged with public nuisance.
Despite being due to stand trial in September 2025, the CPS dropped the case against the 45 year old charity volunteer due to lack of evidence. Over 40 other defendants facing the same charge will face the courts in 2025.
The 2023 Grand National race was delayed by 14 minutes due to the actions of the campaigners, [1] and a public furore ensued regarding the ethics of horse racing and the impact of Animal Rising’s presence. [2]
Three horses died over the course of the Aintree event in 2023. [3] On average, a horse dies every other day on a British racetrack. [4]
The case dropped was against Megan Thornbury, 45, a charity volunteer from Gloucestershire, who said:
“I have watched horses die at the Grand National since I was a child seeing the race on TV. It’s barbaric that we still allow this to happen year after year, not to mention the thousands of horses dying over the years at other races around the country. To me, the Grand National is a national disgrace. We took a stand against the Grand National that day to show the industry that we won’t stay silent about the suffering it causes. It’s time horse racing was consigned to the history books.”
Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.
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