Arthur Morgan, TD urges "total ban" on Ward Union 31 October 2007 Sinn Fein Environment spokesperson, Arthur Morgan, TD has called for a "total ban" on the Ward Union carted deer hunt. In a letter to Minister John Gormley, the Louth Deputy described the hunt as "an abomination" and flagged the danger it poses to members of the public. "Carted deer hunting is an unnecessary cruelty which causes horrific suffering to defenceless red deer," Deputy Morgan stated. "This blood ‘sport’ is not just an abomination for the animals involved - it can also pose a danger to members of the public, with terrified deer crashing through hedges, over walls and even across busy public roads to avoid being tortured. As a result the hunt has been condemned not only by animal welfare groups but also by farmers, landowners, motorists, parents and householders." He went on to remind Minister Gormley about how a comparable hunt was outlawed in Northern Ireland a decade ago. "A similar hunt in County Down was banned in 1997 when it was ruled that the deer used by that carted deer hunt were domestic animals and thus covered by animal welfare legislation," he outlined. "The Minister should be aware that precedence has been set for banning blood sports on this island." "The Irish Council Against Blood Sports are campaigning on this issue and they have my full support," Deputy Morgan added. "I look forward to your decision to ban this cruelty." About Arthur Morgan: Arthur Morgan is Sinn Fein TD for Louth and is party spokesperson on Environment, Local Government and Employment. In the June 1999 European elections, Arthur polled 20,015 first-preference votes in the Leinster constituency. He was elected to Louth County Council in June 1999. He is a member of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission established under the Good Friday Agreement. He is a founding member of Cooley Environmental and Health Action Committee which campaigns against Sellafield and has investigated the high incidence of cancer in the North Louth area. ICABS is very grateful for Deputy Morgan's support. "I am writing to you to express my support for a total ban on the Ward Union Deer Hunt and to ask you to refuse the hunt a licence. Carted deer hunting is an unnecessary cruelty which causes horrific suffering to defenceless red deer." (Arthur Morgan, TD, Sinn Fein's spokesperson on the Environment, Local Government and Employment in a letter to Environment Minister, John Gormley - 30th October, 2007) ICABS is continuing to urge even more public representatives to demand an end to this appalling blood sport. Please respond urgently to our Action Alert below and ask your local TDs and Senators to join the call for an end to carted deer hunting in Ireland. Send them a link to our 30 second video which exposes what happens during a typical Ward Union outing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3f7NYyhDhg. Thank you. Photos: carted deer hunting cruelty A deer, drenched in sweat, stands weakly in the Ward Union's livestock trailer at the end of a gruelling cross-country chase. Please ask your local TDs and Senators to save deer from this cruel blood sport Ward Union "deer handlers" wrestle the deer head-first into the ground at the end of a hunt. Animals are at great risk during this merciless move and at least one has been choked to death. At the end of a hunt, one of the Ward Union hunt's "deer handlers" prevents an exhausted and injured deer from escaping by grabbing hold of its mouth and ear. Another handler attempts to hide the head injury by holding his hand over it. The Ward Union's "deer handlers" surround an exhausted and injured deer at the end of a hunt and grab hold of its body to prevent it from escaping. Ward Union hunt members push and pull the injured deer back towards the deer cart at the end of a hunt. Videos: Carted deer hunting cruelty Ban the Ward Union Deer Hunt Duration: 00:30 Carted deer hunting Duration: 04:51 ACTION ALERT 1 Please contact Environment Minister, John Gormley, and appeal to him to stop carted deer hunt cruelty by firmly refusing a licence to the Ward Union. Sample Letter (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Minister John Gormley Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Custom House, Dublin 1. Email: minister@environ.ie Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640. Dear Minister Gormley, I am writing to register my absolute support for a total ban on the Ward Union deer hunt. This outrageous hunt has been condemned not only by animal welfare groups but also by farmers, landowners, motorists, parents, householders and even other hunters. Refusing the Ward Union a licence will be welcomed by a huge cross-section of people in Ireland and around the world. We all look forward to your decision to ban this cruel blood sport. Thank you and best wishes. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 2 Please contact your local TD and Senator and ask them to make an appeal to Minister Gormley on your behalf. For the names of your TDs, please click on your county on the Irish Government website (http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&disp=const) Contact your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337889 (1890 DEPUTY). For a list of Senators, please visit the Irish Government website (http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=24&disp=mem) Contact your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623 (1890 SEANAD). Sample Letter (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Dear [Deputy] or [Senator], I am writing to ask you to please spare 30 seconds to view an Irish Council Against Blood Sports video which exposes the cruel activities of the Meath-based Ward Union carted deer hunt. The video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3f7NYyhDhg I trust that you will agree that this appalling blood sport has absolutely no place in modern Ireland. Please save deer from the suffering caused by carted deer hunting by joining the widespread calls on Minister John Gormley to ban this hunt. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] More information about carted deer hunting Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition News Menu | Join | Top | Home