|
Complaints to Westmeath Examiner over front page foxhunters
07 March 2014
The Westmeath Examiner has published a photo of foxhunters on the front page of its current edition (bizarrely, the retirement of a hunt master is considered front page news). ICABS has expressed disappointment to the newspaper and highlighted the cruelty of foxhunting.
ACTION ALERT
Join us in asking the Westmeath Examiner to stop giving positive publicity to foxhunters and to instead expose the shameful cruelty of the activity.
Brian O'Loughlin
Editor, Westmeath Examiner
Blackhall Place
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Tel: +353 (0) 44 93 46747
Email: editor@westmeathexaminer.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathexaminer
Westmeath Foxhunt cruelty:
A 2011 Farmers' Journal hunting report told of how sixteen mounted followers of the Westmeath hunt, along with 29 hounds, found a fox that was caught and "chopped." Later on, another fox was "overhauled before he managed to put any distance between himself and them." Both "chopped" and "overhauled," in hunting terminology, mean that the fox was caught by the hounds and brutally killed.
In 2007, there was a probe into allegations that a rope was tied to the leg of a fox and that it was pulled out of a burrow and fed alive to the dogs - See Irish Independent report - www.independent.ie/irish-news/top-hunt-probed-in-cruelty-claim-26333741.html
A 2008 Irish Field report revealed that the Westmeath Hunt's hounds chased a fox into the freezing water of the Royal canal and along its banks - the fox and the pack swam across the canal and continued along the banks to the Mullingar/Ballynacargy Road...the fox, with four and a half couple (9 hounds) in pursuit, then swam the canal again before retracing their steps back to Newman's Bog." Following complaints, Waterways Ireland moved to contact the hunt and tell them to keep away from the Royal Canal.
The Irish Field of December 1991 documented the obscene ritual of cutting off the tails and tongues of foxes - "Terriers were some time in coming as car followers were the wrong side of the wind for hearing. A quick dig followed and two foxes were dispatched. Eamon had a brush for Clarissa and a fox's tongue which he intends pickling in vinegar to cure warts and draw thorns." (Westmeath Foxhounds, Hunt Report)
Video: Ban Foxhunting in Ireland
