2023-09-04 11:24:00
For the past few days, a petition has been circulating, moreover already signed by more than 3,000 people, calling for the resignation of David Gelay as Alderman for Animal Welfare, believing that the one who is also a lawyer does not deserve to defend at the same animal welfare time. A petition which follows the euthanasia of Iron, one of the two dogs which, a little over two years ago, took part in the drama which took place in Strépy-Bracquegnies, while Talya, 8 years old, had been left alone with the two hounds.
Under the fire of criticism since the facts, in the same way as his client, David Gelay wanted to react to this petition which affects his political mandate. “There is not the slightest connection between euthanasia which is the result of a court decision following the death of a child caused by an animal in La Louvière, a case in which I intervene as a lawyer , and municipal animal welfare in Manage as part of a completely different function unrelated to this case. There is therefore clearly no conflict of interest on my part and I would also like to remind you that I have not taken any personal decision having led to this euthanasia”, the Alderman of Animal Welfare told us. in Manage.
Lies and insults
The managerois lawyer also defended himself in a post published this Sunday on social networks. “Following false information, insults, death threats, and a call for hatred and violence, I am forced to speak out,” the lawyer said in his post. “First of all, I would like to recall that the euthanasia of Iron is the result of the execution of judgments of the Court of Appeal of Mons, of the Council of State and the lifting of the seizure by the Public Ministry. for euthanasia. My client did not formally request this one.”
And to David Gelay to recall a fundamental point in his profession as a lawyer. “It is essential to remember that it is not the lawyer who makes the decisions but that he must respect those of the clients but also of the judges. As for the probationary condition relating to euthanasia imposed by the Court on my client, the Court explains in its judgment “that it is an appropriate condition given the dangerousness of the dog concerned, which attacked and killed an eight-year-old girl whom he knew well and whose mistress had not detected any particular aggression towards her until then…”
The amalgam between political life and private life is, according to David Gelay, too easily made in the context of this petition. “I’m not here to judge my client, it’s not my role. She had the right to a lawyer like any citizen in a democratic society and that’s a good thing. She was judged by judges whose job it is and sentenced. For my part, I repeat it forcefully, I made no decision relating to the euthanasia of Iron and am in no way responsible for his death.
Pioneer of animal welfare at the College
”I would like to say once more that I love animals and those who know me know it. I have always been the owner of several animals, I take care of wild and abandoned animals and I collect them. Even if my intervention in this case has no connection with my function as alderman, given the amalgamation of some, I would like to specify without being able to be contradicted by my peers that I was a precursor at the municipal College to defend the well- to be animal, to sign agreements with animal protection organizations and that I was also the first to propose budgets to the municipality even before the arrival of subsidies and the creation of the alderman’s office for animal welfare.
Finally, David Gelay wishes to point out that euthanasia for animals should not be the norm. “I understand the sadness caused by Iron’s euthanasia and I share the importance of leading a fight once morest the euthanasia of animals, most of which are euthanized, every day, for simple convenience, which in my opinion remains unacceptable. ”
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