Cancel the licence extension: Renewed appeal to Minister Gormley 7 January 2010 ICABS has renewed its appeal to Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, to cancel a licence extension he promised to hare coursers. The extension, which was due to be granted early in the new year, would allow coursers to continue terrorising hares into the month of March. Please help save hares from the cruelty of coursing. Respond now to our updated action alert. URGENT ACTION ALERT Please email "Minister Gormley - Revoke the coursing licence and cancel the extension" to minister@environ.ie Minister John Gormley Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Custom House, Dublin 1. Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640. SAMPLE LETTER (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Dear Minister John Gormley I am one of the majority opposed to the cruel blood sport of hare coursing. I am writing to demand that you immediately revoke the licence you granted to coursers and cancel the licence extension you promised to these wildlife abusers. As the leader of a party with anti-blood sports policies, how can you possibly justify licensing this cruel activity? You are more than aware that hares suffer from the moment they are snatched from the wild in nets, during their time in captivity and while they are being chased by the greyhounds. When hit, they sustain agonising life-threatening injuries, including broken bones. The cruelty of coursing is clear to see at www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58qbzC-GI4 I strongly urge you to revoke the current licence, cancel the extension and urgently put in place permanent protection for this most timid and treasured of species. Thank you. I eagerly await your positive action. Yours sincerely, [Your name and location] John Gormley to extend coursing season into March 2010 25 November 2009 ICABS is dismayed to learn that Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, has agreed to a coursing licence extension which will allow coursers to continue terrorising hares into the month of March 2010. This is the third year in a row that Minister Gormley has agreed to the coursers' request for an extension. The details are revealed in a document obtained following a Freedom of Information request by ICABS. A letter signed by Gerry Leckey - the Assistant Director of the NPWS Species "Protection" Unit - states that "it is recommended that licences issue to the Irish Coursing Club under the Wildlife Acts to mark hares, capture hares and undertake coursing outside the Open Season Order on 1 March 2010. The licence will cover all clubs affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club." Subsequently, in a letter from the Assistant Director to the CEO of the Irish Coursing Club, it is stated: "In relation to your application for a licence under Section 26(3) of the Wildlife Act, 1976 to undertake coursing outside the Open Season Order, the Minister has agreed to this extension for 1 March 2010 to facilitate the holding of the Irish Cup meeting at Limerick. The appropriate licence will issue to you in 2010." In a letter of appeal to Minister Gormley, ICABS has called for the current licence to be revoked, the extension to be withheld and for permanent protection to be put in place for the Irish Hare. Revealed: Minister Gormley's licence for coursing cruelty 11 November 2009 Despite appeals from Ireland and around the world, Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, issued this licence for another season of hare coursing cruelty (2009-2010) The licence allows coursers to forcefully removes hares from the wild in nets for use as live lures before greyhounds. A hare (far left) desperately runs for its life in front of two greyhounds at a coursing meeting during the current season. Coursers are free to terrorise hares thanks to a licence from Minister John Gormley. Campaign Videos: Ban Coursing in Ireland More ICABS Videos Campaign Videos: Urge the Green party to ban blood sports To place this banner on your website, visit our banner page for the code More information about hare coursing Coursing: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition Make a donation to ICABS Please consider making a small donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you. News Menu | Join | Top | Home