POLICE have been called to speak to a man who last week announced plans to hold a cockfighting contest in Fermanagh following a number of complaints, The Impartial Reporter has learned.
Joe Mahon, who organises the annual Lady of the Lake Festival, has faced heavy criticism after he spoke of his intention to have “two cocks from the street” fighting in Irvinestown.
He has received a visit from police to discuss the event which he has described as “harmless fun.”
There have been calls for the owner of Mahon’s Hotel, who once planned to throw 50 live turkeys off a clock tower as part of the community event, to be arrested and jailed. 
He said the reaction has been “wild altogether.”
Mr. Mahon told The Impartial Reporter last week that the winner of the cockfight will receive a “special trophy” while the winning cock “will get a framed photo of its owner to look at.” 
The planned event has since been described as “barbaric” by the League Against Cruel Sports, “vile” by Alliance leader Naomi Long and “cruel” by Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton.
“It has no place in our society. It is simply not suitable for a family occasion. I call upon the organisers of this event to look at alternative attractions,” said Mrs. Barton on Tuesday. 
Last week Mr. Mahon said a full risk assessment had been carried out and added: “St. John Ambulance will be there on the day.”
Following the furore PSNI Chief Inspector Clive Beatty said: “Police have met with the festival organiser who confirmed that there is to be no illegal cock fighting as part of this event.” 
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday (Wednesday), Mr. Mahon said there will be “no actual cocks fighting on the street” adding that he was “surprised” by the backlash he has received. 
“I have been involved with the Lady of Lake Festival for 30 years and enjoy bringing the community together and providing entertainment for locals and tourists. All events have been very successful, often raising money for worthy charities. 
“To run the festival you need some PR for the event which we do every year and if you had a bog standard festival which happens in a lot of towns you wouldn’t get the PR,” he said.
The cockfighting contest will go ahead on Wednesday, July 19 as part of the festival’s popular fair day “but everything will be above board”, Mr. Mahon has insisted. “We will have two or three cock roosters fighting on the street, no actual cocks will be used in the event. We thought people would have seen this event like all the other events, a bit of harmless fun but a lot of people have taken it the wrong way and I have received a lot of abuse from people.
“If all these so called animal lovers who have given me abuse on social media want to make a donation to Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary of which I am a patron and where I got my own dog Bongo from, I will gladly accept the donations. I love animals and always have,” he said.