The Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports welcomes the permanent ban on live hare coursing in Northern Ireland that came into effect last week.
This represents both a proud day for the people of Northern Ireland and a much-needed boost to the magnificent wildlife heritage that all of us share on this island and that knows no borders.
Sadly, the contrast could not be greater between this development and the decision last week of Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan to allow another season of this abhorrent cruelty to hares here in the Republic.
Despite muzzling of greyhounds, hares continue to be mauled, pinned to the ground, and tossed into the air at these public festivals of cruelty. Because the hare is a brittle boned creature, its injuries cannot heal.
Even hares that are released back into the wild after coursing events can fall victim to capture myopathy, a stress-related condition that affects a number of wild species, including the Irish hare.
Last week’s news, we believe, should especially concentrate the minds of delegates at the forthcoming Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, to be held from 9-10 September in Belfast.
The party since last year has been officially pro-hare coursing owing to a controversial motion passed at the 2010 Ard Fheis. We want them to reverse that position at this year’s gathering.
We have contacted Sinn Fein members and supporters and asked them to support the replacement of live hare coursing in the Republic with the humane alternative of drag coursing, which avails of a mechanical lure. It replicates all the alleged action and excitement of live coursing but without the cruelty.
John Fitzgerald
Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports
