Senator John Whelan: Stag hunting is "not missed by rural Ireland"
31 August 2012

Anti-bloodsports Senator, John Whelan, has condemned stag hunting as a "relic of our colonial past" and said it's "best to leave it where it is…consigned to history!!".

The Labour Party politician made the comment in response to a Journal.ie article outlining how hunters are seeking the return of the banned Ward Union staghunt.

"Stag hunting does not have its roots or traditions in rural Ireland but is a throw-back to Mad King George and our colonial past," Senator Whelan stated. "It is not pursued, desired or missed by country people or rural Ireland but an elitist and cruel pursuit previously practised in one part of County Meath."

"Stag hunting has no basis in rural Irish tradition; cannot by any stretch of the imagination be seen to be representative of rural Ireland or the traditional lifestyle and activities enjoyed and cherished in rural Ireland," he added. "There is NO commitment by this Government to overturn the Ward Union Hunt ban and I for one would vigorously oppose any attempt to have stag hunting re-introduced to this country."

Thank you to Senator Whelan for speaking out against stag hunting cruelty. See the views of other Senators and TDs on our Political Views page.

The cruelty of staghunting

 ACTION ALERT 

According to the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010, "a person who hunts deer with two or more dogs shall be guilty of an offence." If you reside in the area where the Ward Union operates, please familiarise yourself with the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010 and report any breaches to the Gardai.

For the phone numbers of Garda stations, please visit: http://www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx

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