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Paddy Power and hare coursing
3rd July, 2003 Paddy Power Bookmakers have indicated that as long as hare coursing is legal in Ireland, they will continue to accept bets on the blood sport. The statement came following an appeal by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) for the company to disassociate itself from coursing due to the inherent animal cruelty. "Hare coursing, as you know, is legal in this country and is administered by the Irish Coursing Club," stated Patrick Power in an email to ICABS. "Obviously if the current legislation were to change, we would abide by any new law." "We offer betting on most sports where there is a public interest and coursing as a greyhound sport is popular with the betting public," he added. "At present we offer betting on the National meeting at Clonmel and on the Irish Cup meeting at Tralee." ICABS is very disappointed at this response and we have this month renewed our appeal to Paddy Power Plc. We have highlighted the fact that eight in ten Irish adults wish to see coursing banned and also asked them to note that hare coursing is now illegal in Scotland and looks likely to be banned in England and Wales. The Paddy Power company has branches all over Ireland and in London. It also operates telephone and online betting services.
Action Item: Contact Paddy Power Please contact Paddy Power and ask that they stop helping to keep hare coursing alive by accepting bets. Tell them that it is unacceptable that they are associating themselves with a form of animal cruelty which 80 per cent of Irish people wish to see banned.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Sir, I am writing to ask that Paddy Power Plc ceases all involvement with the blood sport of live hare coursing. It is unacceptable that your company is defending its association with this cruel blood sport on the grounds that it is still legal in Ireland. Considering that eighty per cent of Irish adults wish to see coursing banned, I appeal to Paddy Power Plc to fully disassociate itself from this animal abuse. As you may be aware, hare coursing is illegal in Scotland and it looks likely to be outlawed in England and Wales too. I look forward to your positive response.
Yours sincerely,
CONTACT DETAILS
Email:
Postal:
Tel: 1850 4144444 (Ireland), 0800 039 1800 (UK), +353 1 4049611 (Rest of World) Hare Coursing: Further Information For more information on the blood sport of hare coursing, please visit our Ban Hare Coursing website. Here you will find video clips, images, a leaflet and a petition.
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