Legislation to outlaw grotesque hunt will be introduced 18 December 2009 Speaking on RTE TV's Nine News, ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell expressed our confidence that Minister John Gormley will stand firm and introduce overdue legislation to ban the Ward Union carted deer hunt. The RTE report featured ICABS footage showing a deer surrounded by hounds being dragged to the ground during a Ward Union hunt. "The minister will stand firm and legislation to outlaw this grotesque hunt will be introduced." stated Aideen. "It's long overdue. What we're talking about is an activity where a vulnerable animal - a deer with its antlers sawn off - is taken out and hounded around the countryside by a pack of dogs for sheer entertainment." Watch the RTE News report (Click on "Play Clip" beneath "Protests over stag hunting laws") Some of ICABS footage featured on RTE's Nine News. This scene shows a hunter kicking out at the hounds while others drag the unfortunate stag to the ground ACTION ALERT Please email "Revoke the Ward Union's licence immediately" to johngormleyoffice@gmail.com 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 Gormley I am deeply concerned to learn that a deer being hunted by the Ward Union collided with a vehicle during a hunt this month. The unfortunate animal suffered a broken leg and according to an eyewitness interviewed on RTE's Liveline, the stag 'tried to get up for a few minutes' and, in severe pain, eventually staggered over to a ditch. The two people in the car were left 'very shaken up' according to a relative speaking on the programme and damage was caused to their vehicle, including a shattered windscreen. One caller said 'I can't understand how those people were not killed' while another asked 'Do the hunt have to kill someone before it's finally banned?' Minister, you were quoted in the Irish Times of November 21, 2009 as saying that alarm bells started ringing for you when you received a report which referred to 'deer going across the road just in front of a car'. After this collision, these alarm bells should now be sounding at a thunderous volume. Instead of waiting till next year to stop this hunt, and risk injuries and possible death on the roads, you must intervene and immediately revoke the Ward Union's licence. Yours sincerely, [Your name and location] News Menu | Join | Top | Home