A TOP politician says the criticism of Gordon Elliott for his dead horse photo shame has ‘gone too far’.
And Danny Healy-Rae said the abuse must end because the animal was not a human.
Kerry TD Healy-Rae added his voice to the growing number of people concerned the impact the sick photo will have on Elliott.
The top trainer, 43, will find out his fate at a hearing with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Friday.
Already he has been banned from saddling runners in Britain and lost a deal with Betfair as well as the sponsorship of two multi-millionaire backers.
One top owner has deserted Elliott, while another has urged him to ‘step away’ amid fears the criticism could ‘destroy’ his mental health.
Now Healy-Rae has called for an end to the abuse Elliott, who has twice apologised for the photo, has received.
Healy-Rae, 67, insisted he was not dismissing people’s anger, but said: “I’m very hurt by the way he’s been treated.
“Michael O’Leary at least had the courage to stick with him.
“I was brought up by my grandmother to understand that if you don’t treat animals fairly, it will come back on you.
“You can’t make animals human.
“If there was one breath of life at all in that horse, I would be the first to condemn what happened.
“But the horse was dead and this has gone too far.”
Elliott could use a loophole to have horses at his yard run at Cheltenham, which begins on March 16.
Ryanair boss and Gigginstown chief O’Leary has pledged to stand by Elliott.
But Cheveley Park Stud, who own unbeaten superstar Envoi Allen, removed eight horses from Elliott’s yard earlier this week and placed them with rivals.
Poor staff at Elliott’s Co Meath HQ are said to have been in tears amid the fallout from his dead horse photo.
Elliott has said sorry for his ‘indefensible moment of madness’ and claimed he sat on the horse when he ‘wasn’t thinking’.
